Assisted Hatching

The hatching of an embryo is an absolute requirement and a natural process.

. If it does not take place, since the zona pellucida does not rupture, the embryo remains caught in the coating and it cannot nidate. A pregnancy cannot occur.

. With the help of the “assisted hatching” an attempt is made to make it easier for the embryo to leave the zona pellucida. To achieve it we can either perforate or thin out the zona pellucida.

1 Opening of the zona pelucida with the help of a laser

2 Nidation in the uterine lining

3 Cervical cavity

4 Zona pelucida

5 Hatching blastocycte (appr. day 6)

. Assisted hatching can be carried out with the help of various techniques. We use a laser-assisted procedure only. An infrared laser is directed through a microscope at the border of the egg cell and then it is perforated by means of a short light impulse.

. This technique offers a high safety due to a precise adjustment. It is also contamination-free due to a non-contact handling.