Assisted hatching is a technique used to improve the implantation of an embryo. Upon the discovery of this technique, couples who experience difficulty conceiving a child have used this as an option to increase the probability of the implantation of the embryo into the uterus. The success rate of this implantation is reliant on the quality of the sperm and the state of the embryo's coating. The best candidates for assisted hatching are women over 38 years old with a high FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) level.
Development of Assisted Hatching
Assisted hatching is a procedure that was developed in 1990 by J. Cohen, who is a highly skilled and esteemed professional in assisted reproductive technology. J Cohen stated that the coating of embryos used in the IVF (Invitro Fertilization) procedure had thicker walls, and this resulted in a low efficiency of an embryo implantation. Therefore, he created a new technique called assisted hatching to reduce the risk of an embryo implantation failure, in order to increase the rate of a successful hatching.
With assisted hatching, the embryo is fertilized outside the womb during an Invitro Fertilization Procedure. A hollow, acidic needle is used to create a hole in the zona pellucida, which removes layers of the embryo's thick coating to improve the hatching process, before the embryo can be transferred into the womb.
Assisted hatching poses certain risks or damage to the embryo. An Infrared technology was later developed to reduce these potential risks. This technique is considered a safer alternative for assisted hatching to efficiently remove the thick coating safely from the embryo.
