#assisted hatching

Infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, but advancements in assisted reproductive technology (ART) have made parenthood possible for many through treatments like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). One of the most crucial stages in IVF is embryo implantation. Even when healthy embryos are transferred, pregnancy may not occur if the embryo cannot hatch from its protective outer layer. In such cases, Assisted Hatching can improve the chances of successful implantation in carefully selected patients.

Assisted hatching is an advanced embryology procedure performed before embryo transfer during IVF treatment. Every embryo is enclosed within a transparent membrane called the zona pellucida, which protects it during the early stages of development. Before implantation can occur, the embryo must naturally break through this outer shell in a process called hatching. If the zona pellucida becomes unusually thick or hard, the embryo may be unable to hatch, resulting in implantation failure despite being healthy. Assisted hatching creates a tiny opening or thins a small section of this membrane, helping the embryo hatch more easily and implant into the uterine lining.

Several factors may contribute to a hardened zona pellucida. Women over the age of 35 often produce embryos with thicker outer shells due to age-related changes in egg quality. Embryos used in Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) cycles may also develop a slightly hardened membrane during the freezing and thawing process. Additionally, couples with repeated IVF failures, recurrent implantation failure, unexplained infertility, or embryos with naturally thick zona pellucida may benefit from assisted hatching.

Today, Laser Assisted Hatching is the most commonly used technique because it offers exceptional precision and safety. Using a highly accurate laser, embryologists create a microscopic opening in the embryo’s outer shell without harming the developing embryo. The procedure is performed entirely in the laboratory before embryo transfer, meaning patients experience no pain or discomfort.

Assisted hatching is not recommended for every IVF patient. Instead, fertility specialists evaluate factors such as maternal age, embryo quality, previous IVF outcomes, and overall fertility history before deciding whether the procedure is appropriate. When performed for the right candidates, assisted hatching may improve embryo implantation and increase clinical pregnancy rates. However, it is important to understand that the procedure does not improve embryo quality or guarantee pregnancy. Successful IVF depends on multiple factors, including healthy embryos, uterine receptivity, hormonal balance, and expert fertility care.

At AEVA Fertility, assisted hatching is performed using advanced laser technology in a state-of-the-art embryology laboratory by experienced fertility specialists and skilled embryologists. Every treatment plan is personalized to meet each patient’s unique fertility needs, ensuring the highest standards of safety, precision, and compassionate care.

Understanding Laser Assisted Hatching: A Quick Guide

One chick pipped this morning and then ... nada. It hadn't moved, hadn't wiggled, and its peeping was getting weaker.

I'm keeping a much closer eye on this hatch than I normally do - we're hatching pullet eggs which at this point in the year are a little smaller than they will be in a few months. This can cause issues with chicks not having quite enough room to move around and unzip.

When I checked on the eggs at 7.30pm, this chick was firmly shrink wrapped into its egg. Shrink wrapping happens when the membranes of the egg dry out faster than the chick hatches. It's uncommon under a broody hen because they're meant to regulate humidity pretty well - but we see it a lot in the late hatching eggs in an incubator when we've had the lid open to remove quail chicks and lost our humidity.

I damped the membrane and popped the egg back under Thyme.

An hour later, no movement and I honestly thought the chick had died. (It hadn't)

So I made the executive decision to assist with its hatch, while Amy held the torch. Assisting with a hatch is the last resort. It's basically what you do when you know the chick is going to die without help.

I gently picked off some shell so I could see the inner membrane and check the blood vessels. Big full vessels mean the baby isn't ready and you should back away. But these weren't, they were completely empty and so it was safe to help.

Once I damped down the membrane and unstuck the chick, it perked back up and started to struggle. We removed the end of the eggshell and it popped mostly free as I tucked it back under its mother.

Assisted Hatching In Vizag

In vitro fertilization (IVF) failure is a frustrating experience for individuals and couples, and it is often caused by an embryo’s failure to implant in the uterus.

For women who have failed IVF or have a poor prognosis for IVF, the fertility doctor may recommend a technique known as Assisted Hatching.

Who Should Use Assisted Hatching with IVF?

Assisted hatching is thought to be helpful for…