Assisted Hatching
In the natural process of pregnancy an embryo becomes implanted in the lining of the uterus, however it cannot implant if it remains enclosed within the shell (or zona) of the egg. When the embryo breaks through the zona it is said to hatch.
Some IVF embryos have difficulty in hatching, hence procedures have been developed to assist the process. These involve weakening the zona, before embryo transfer, by either making a small hole in it or thinning it using specially designed acid media.
Indications for the use of assisted hatching include, for instance, elevated FSH level or age over 38.
