Assisted hatching is one of the fertility treatment methods used at Unica. We've prepared this blog article to make you understand this process and its consequences.
After transfer, embryos usually develop in the uterus for 5 or 6 days until you can get pregnant. When the embryo is in its blastocyst stage, it evolves into something called "zona pellucida", which enables the embryo cells to reach the uterus cells. The blastocysts (cells) should grow into this zone to create important pressure for the zone to break and for the blastocysts to hatch. This is the "natural" hatching process, but hatching problems can cancel embryo implantation.
That is why the technique of assisted hatching was created in 1990.
Assisted hatching is performed during day 3. Before transferring the embryo, we make a small hole in the "zona pellucida" with a laser beam and thus enable the opening of this protective membrane of the embryo. Then, we keep the embryo in an incubator for 2 or 3 days before transfer.
It is important to know that assisted hatching can also be used with frozen embryos.
Are you eligible for assisted hatching? Usually, we recommend assisted hatching to women with high FSH hormone levels on day 3, when embryo quality is low, or when the couple has experienced failed IVF treatments multiple times.
Choosing this technique is an important decision in your fertility treatment; therefore, you should always discuss it with experts first. At Unica, our team is here to help you make the best choices to create your perfect family! Do you have any questions? We will be delighted to answer them. Do not hesitate to contact us.
