What Is Laser Assisted Hatching?

 

Introduction

You may have heard about laser Assisted hatching. What is it, and what are the benefits?

Laser-assisted hatching is a medical procedure that helps embryos implant into the uterus. It is most commonly used in IVF treatments, but can also be helpful in other fertility treatments. The benefits of laser-assisted hatching include increased rates of pregnancy and decreased rates of miscarriage.

If you are considering fertility treatments, it is important to understand all of your options. Laser-assisted hatching is one option that may improve your chances of success.

What Is Laser-Assisted Hatching?

Laser Assisted Hatching (LAH) is a technique used in conjunction with in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to improve the chances of implantation and pregnancy.

During IVF, an embryo is created by fertilizing an egg with sperm in a lab. The fertilized egg, or zygote, grows into an embryo over the course of about five days. Once the embryo reaches the eight-cell stage, it is placed in the woman's uterus.

In some cases, the embryo may have difficulty hatching out of its shell. When this happens, the chance of implantation and pregnancy are lower.

LAH is a technique that helps the embryo hatch out of its shell. A laser is used to create a small hole in the shell. This makes it easier for the embryo to hatch and implant in the uterus.

LAH is a safe and effective way to improve the chances of implantation and pregnancy for couples undergoing IVF.

When Is Laser Assisted Hatching Used?

So when is laser Assisted hatching used? Well, there are a few different scenarios. The first is when the outer membrane, or shell, around the embryo is thick. This can make it difficult for the embryo to hatch on its own.

The second scenario is when the embryo has adhered to the wall of the zygote. This can make it difficult for the embryo to hatch and results in what's known as "tethering."

Laser Assisted hatching can also be used when there are fewer cells on the outer membrane of the embryo. This can happen for a number of reasons, including advanced maternal age, previous in vitro fertilization failures, or genetic abnormalities.

How Is Laser Assisted Hatching Done?

Laser Assisted Hatching is usually done on the day of embryo transfer. A small hole is made in the shell of the embryo using a laser. This hole helps the embryo to hatch out of its shell and attaches to the lining of the uterus.

What Are the Risks of Laser Assisted Hatching?

Most fertility clinics will only offer laser assisted hatching to patients who have had multiple failed IVF cycles, so you can be sure that they've weighed the risks and benefits carefully.

That said, there are a few potential risks associated with laser assisted hatching, which is why it's so important to talk to your doctor about whether or not it's right for you.

Some of the risks include:

- Damage to the embryo: While the laser is very precise, there is always a risk of damage to the embryo.

- Infection: There is also a small risk of infection, which can be serious.

- Bleeding: Another potential risk is bleeding, which can occur if the laser damages blood vessels in the egg.

What Are the Success Rates of Laser assisted Hatching?

When it comes to success rates, laser assisted hatching has been shown to be pretty effective. One study showed that when used on patients who had previously undergone in vitro fertilization (IVF), the pregnancy rate was increased by about 5%.

Another study looked at the effect of laser assisted hatching on frozen embryos and found that it increased the implantation rate by about 9%. And, finally, a third study showed that laser assisted hatching can improve the live birth rate in patients who have had multiple IVF cycles without success.

So, while there's no guarantee that laser assisted hatching will work for everyone, the studies show that it can definitely increase your chances of success if you've been struggling to get pregnant.