Assisted hatching

What is this?

Before an embryo can implant, it has to "hatch" out of its coat. Assisted hatching is a micromanipulation technique designed to help this process (see photograph below).

In most cases, hatching takes place naturally without any problems. However, it is possible that the eggs of some women may have an unusually thick coat and assisted hatching may be needed. Consequently, patients more likely to benefit this technique include those >38 years old, those with an elevated FSH level, and those who have been unsuccessful in many IVF treatment cycles.

At present, there is no clear evidence that assisted hatching actually improves pregnancy rates. Also, there is a small risk of possible damage to the embryo as a direct result of the technique applied. Therefore, it should be considered as a treatment option only where clearly indicated.

Different techniques may be employed for creating a hole in the egg coat, including lasers, fine micromanipulators or an acid solution.

Are there potentially harmful side effects of assisted hatching?

Providing it is performed properly, assisted hatching appears to be a safe procedure. However, there is a suggestion from recent studies that assisted hatching might result in twinning, the embryo presumably hatching from more than one point and thereby splitting in two.