Laser Assisted Hatching

Before an embryo can attach to the wall of the uterus, it has to break out or ‘hatch’ from its outer layer, the zona pellucida. It has been suggested that making a hole in, or thinning, this outer layer may help embryos to hatch, which may increase the chances of pregnancy. Laser- Assisted hatching is one out of several methods to help the fertilized egg to hatch and attach to the uterus. In this technique, the outer membrane of the egg (zona pellicuda) is opened under the microscope by laser, before the embryos are replaced in the uterus that helps the embryo to hatch from the zona. Once it is returned to the uterus, the embryo can hatch through this opening and implant naturally.