IVF PRIMER

Assisted hatching is a laboratory procedure designed to facilitate implantation or attachment of the dividing embryos to the wall of the uterus. In order for implantation and pregnancy to occur, the embryo must "hatch" out of the zona pellucida (the egg's outermost membrane). In some patients, failure to establish a pregnancy after IVF may be related to the inability of the embryos to get out of the zona.

When transfer is done 3 days after retrieval, a small opening is created in the zona pellucida under microscopic control, thus aiding the hatching process. Assisted hatching is not done on day 2 and day 5 transfers. Patients whose embryos undergo hatching, receive extended antibiotic and steroid treatment for 5 days.

Although assisted hatching has been around as long as ICSI, its clinical value remains highly controversial. Whereas in the past we utilized this technique widely, more recently we have restricted its application to select cases where poor implantation rate may occur.

Assisted Hatching 3 days after retrieval