Assisted Hatching 2018-03-16T17:30:11+00:00

Assisted Hatching

It is heartbreaking when in vitro fertilization fails. You put your hopes and dreams into the procedure, and the failure is crushing. Couples search for answers after the failure and often find that the embryo wasn’t able to implant in the uterus.

This issue can be avoided with a procedure called assisted hatching. If you’ve experienced a failed IVF attempt or you have a poor prognosis for success, you might be a candidate for this innovative procedure.

During the IVF procedure, your doctor fertilizes the egg in a laboratory. The cells begin dividing as soon as the egg is fertilized, but the embryo stays inside of the zona pellucida. The zona pellucida is essentially an eggshell. It’s a protective outer layer that the embryo must break free of in order to implant in the uterine lining.

When you undergo a standard IVF procedure, the egg hatches inside of your body. If it fails to hatch, it will also fail to implant in the uterine lining. That means you won’t get pregnant.

With assisted hatching, a doctor uses a microtool, micro-laser, or acid to thin the zona pellucida or make a small hole in it. Then, the egg is implanted. Since it is already starting to hatch, it is much more likely that it will implant in the uterus.

You need to meet with a fertility specialist to determine if you are a good candidate for assisted hatching. However, you are likely a good candidate if you have experienced IVF failures in the past or if you were given a poor prognosis regarding your IVF success. A poor prognosis might be given if you’re older than 38, have poor embryo quality, or have experienced at least two failed IVF cycles.

Countless studies have been conducted with assisted hatching, and the evidence is clear. It improves IVF success rates, as long as an experienced embryologist is in charge of the procedure. There is little room for error with this procedure, and one small mistake could ruin the egg. If the embryologist has experience using the proper techniques, the chances of success are greater than they would be with traditional IVF.

The risks associated with assisted hatching go down a great deal when you choose a skilled embryologist. Potential risks include damage to the embryo. The embryo can also become infected during the procedure, although this is not likely.

The potential for multiple births also increases with assisted hatching. The embryo might be divided in two during the process, which could cause multiple births. Again, this is not likely to happen, but it is a possibility.

Most people find that the potential rewards outweigh the risks. If you want to learn more about this innovative procedure, contact us today. We are available for a free phone consultation. We can explain the process to you in detail and help you determine if it’s a good fit.