Assisted Laser Hatching
Some studies have suggested that a possible reason for the failure of implantation following IVF treatment may be the inability of the embryo to undergo this hatching process. This may be due to the zona pellucida (the outer wall of the embryo) being thicker or harder than normal. Assisted hatching biopsy is a laboratory procedure first developed in 1990. It is designed to assist in the hatching process, where a small hole is drilled into the zona of the embryo. This used to be achieved by localized exposure of the zona to an acidified enzyme solution. Nowadays a precise laser beam is used to make a precision opening of the required size. The procedure does not have any adverse effect on the embryos themselves. At Dr. Sarita Sukhija, we provide laser assisted hatching in Nairobi, assisted hatching biopsy with high IVF assisted hatching success rates at low cost.
Assisted Laser Hatching Procedure
Assisted hatching is the procedure performed for the patients who undergoes In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Once the embryos are done creating, before transferring it into the uterus, an assisted laser hatching is been performed at the embryo. What happens is that embryos are surrounded by the shells hard in nature called zona pellucid. The outer layer is referred as the shell of embryo and that embryo should break in order to get the pregnancy possible when in uterus. Therefore ALH procedure is performed where a little crack or the cut has been made in the shell of an embryo leading to hatching of an embryo from its cell and imposing higher pregnancy rates in patients.
What is involved?
The embryos are cultured to day 3 (i.e. 6 to 8 cell stage) and the best 2 (or 3 for some women over 40) embryos selected for transfer. Assisted hatching will only be done on embryos designated for transfer. The embryo is held in place using a holding pipette and a small precision opening is created in the zona using a laser beam. The embryo is then cultured until the time of embryo transfer.
Who are the right candidates for Assisted Hatching?
- Women over the age of 38 years, as it has been shown that zona tend to thicken and harden with age. Patients with a history of previous failure to become pregnant following IVF with good quality embryos.
- Frozen embryo replacement cycles, as it has been shown that zona tend to harden during the freezing and thawing process.
- Patients with increased FSH levels.
- Women who have eggs with thick zona.
Success Rate for IVF with Assisted Hatching
Studies have shown that assisted lased hatching has increases the chance of getting pregnant while implanting an embryo. It is yet proved as the best method for the patients as no study has yet showed that there other better treatment that the assisted hatching in treating the infertility better. Contact us for laser assisted hatching pgs.
