What is assisted hatching?
The most common reason for an IVF or ICSI cycle to fail is because embryos fail to implant. Before an embryo can implant into the lining of the uterus it must ‘hatch’ out of this shell. This usually occurs five or six days following fertilisation.
There are many reasons why successful implantation does not occur. One of these reasons may be due to the fact that the embryo is unable to ‘hatch’ because the zona pellucida is too thick, or too hard.
Who could benefit from assisted hatching?
The patients who could benefit from assisted hatching include all patients whose embryos have thickened zonae or hardened zonae. Patients who may fall into this category include:
-
Women with a high baseline FSH level. Oocytes from these women are more likely to have thicker or harder zonae.
-
Women who, regardless of age, have had two or more embryo transfers but no implantation.
-
Patients whose embryos have a zona pellucida that appears to be thicker than average, as determined by an embryologist during an IVF or ICSI cycle.
-
Women who are undergoing FER (frozen embryo replacement cycles).
In this guide
