What is Laser Assisted Hatching?

Laser Assisted Hatching is a laboratory technique where hatching occurs naturally when the embryos are in women uterus. It takes around five to six days after fertilization when the embryos which are developed escape from the zona pellucida. 

What is zona pellucida?

A soft shell called zona pellucida which surrounds the embryo. The work of zona pellucida is to protect the embryo during early development. As the embryo develops, the zona pellucida becomes thin. The Laser Assisted Hatching india helps the fertility experts to hatch the embryo out of the zona pellucida before implanting it into the uterine wall. It has been suggested that some of the unsuccessful cycles of assisted reproduction are due to the inability of the embryo to hatch out of the zona pellucida which prevents the embryo from subsequently implanting into the wall of uterine during the period of implantation.

When is the Laser Assisted Hatching required?

The Laser Assisted Hatching is required when women fall under the following conditions:

•    Age above 40 years

•    Thickened zona pellucida

•    More than two failed IVF cycles

•    Poor embryo quality

•    Post vitrification

Procedure of the Laser Assisted Hatching

On the day of IVF egg retrieval, the fertility expert will begin the four days treatment by giving the steroids which help in suppressing the immune system of the women and also they will keep her on some antibiotics so that if there is any infection in her uterus will be removed. On the third day after egg retrieval, the laboratory staff will use a microscopic glass pipet which helps in placing the small amount of fluid on the outer coating of the embryo. This fluid dissolves part of the outer coating and later on the embryos are transferred into the women uterus as it is done in standard IVF cycle. 

Types of Laser Assisted Hatching

Laser Assisted Hatching India is of three types:

a)    Mechanical: In this type of Laser Assisted Hatching method the covered embryo is opened mechanically by using a thin long drawn out glass needle. The machine which is used for this method is called micromanipulator.

b)    Chemical: In this type of Laser Assisted Hatching method a hole is created in the zona pellucida of an egg and in the embryo with the use of acidic Tyrone's solution.

c)    Laser: In this type of Laser Assisted Hatching method the gap is created in the zona pellucida of the selected embryo by using the 1.48-micron infrared diode laser.

Success Rate of Laser Assisted Hatching

Laser Assisted Hatching improves the result of an IVF treatment but they may vary according to individual cases. Age is one of the most important factors to achieve the success rate of Laser Assisted Hatching method. The women under age of 38 years have more successful chances of pregnancy than the women over the age of 38 years. Till date, the success rate by using Laser Assisted Hatching is around 65-75%.

Laser Assisted Hatching Cost in India

The Laser Assisted Hatching Cost in India is very reasonable as compared with the cost of other countries and also can be easily afforded by the people of average class.