Assisted Laser Hatching

What is Assisted Hatching?

Couples may face difficulty and frustration after IVF and ICSI treatments due to failure of successful implantation of healthy looking embryos into the womb.
In general, the embryos are transferred back into the womb on the second or third day, when they are in the 4 cell or 8 cell stage. Once they are placed back into the womb, they keep on growing till day 5 (5 days after oocyte retrieval). At this time the embryos are multicellular, and differentiated into an inner cell mass and an outer cover called the Trophectoderm. This embryo is called a Blastocyst. The Blastocyst starts expanding and cracks open the cover of the zona, and escapes out. This process is known as 'Hatching'.

In Assisted Hatching, a cut is given to the zona, when the embryos are at 4 cell (day 2) or 6-8 cell (day 3) stage. These embryos are placed back into the womb. The cut also called Assisted Hatching, weakens the zona, and helps in the hatching process. This in turn results in better pregnancy rates.

The cut can be made in three different ways:
1. Mechanical Hatching: In this the embryo cover is slit open mechanically with the help of a thin long drawn out glass needle. This is done with the help of a machine called the Micromanipulator.

2. Chemical Hatching: In this the zona is opened by touching it with a chemical called Acid Tyrode Solution. This is also done with the aid of the Micromanipulator.

3. Laser Hatching: This is the latest method, introduced in the world in 1992. At present the Laser beam is generated by an InGaSp Diode Laser. The zona is cut with the Laser beam by simply pressing a button on the Laser machine. Many babies have been born all over the world, following the introduction of this technique.

Babies and Us Fertility Centre was the first unit in India to start this technique in 1999. We have already completed more than 300 cycles, with success rates as high as 30 %.

Which Patients benefit from Assisted Hatching?
The following group of patients are usually selected for the technique of Assisted Hatching:
1. Women patients usually between 35-38 years of age
2. Patients in whom the zona thickness is more than 15 microns
3. Patients who have had more than one attempt at IVF/ICSI and have failed to become pregnant
4. Patients who have their extra embryos frozen. The frozen thawed embryos are hatched before embryo transfer
5. Patients who are undergoing Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis

Which is the Best method of Hatching-mechanical, chemical or Laser?
All the three methods give equivalent results in experienced hands. However Laser Hatching is simple to perform, easy, accurate, and reproducible and any embryologist can perform it. Hence, it is the preferred method of choice. The biggest problem with Laser Hatching is the cost of the machine, which is in the region of US$40,000. In fact in India, there are very few ART Centres having this facility. We at the Babies And Us Fertility Centre perform all the techniques of Assisted Hatching. We are infact, the first unit in India to perform this technique.