Assisted Hatching by Laser
In an embryo, there is a protective outer layer called the zona pellucida, which functions as a shell that safeguards the embryo’s cells. However, for implantation to occur, the embryo must break free from this layer.
Assisted hatching is a laboratory technique in which a small opening is created—or the outer shell is thinned—using a precisely controlled laser under a microscope. This process helps the embryo hatch more easily, thereby enhancing implantation rates, especially in cases where: The embryo has been previously frozen and thawed The zona pellucida is abnormally thick The female partner is of advanced maternal age Assisted hatching is a safe procedure that does not harm the embryo and is typically performed on the day of embryo transfer.
