What is Laser Assisted Hatching?
A human embryo is surrounded by an outer layer called the zona pellucida. Around five or six days after fertilization, the embryo reaches a stage called the blastocyst. At this point, it needs to break out of the zona in a process known as hatching. This step is essential—only after hatching can the embryo attach to the lining of the womb and begin a pregnancy. If the embryo doesn’t hatch, implantation can’t happen, and pregnancy won’t occur.
How it works?
Laser-assisted hatching is a technique where a tiny hole is made in the zona of an embryo using a laser system. This hole may help the embryo hatch more easily, which could help the embryo implant in the womb and start a pregnancy.
The procedure is done just before the embryo is transferred into the uterus. It can be used on embryos at both the early stage (2–3 days after egg collection) and the later blastocyst stage (5–6 days after egg collection).
