
Laser-Assisted Hatching
Laser-Assisted Hatching is a technique used to improve the efficiency of procedures such as ICSI and IVF. The goal of this lab technique is to overcome the barriers that prevent implantation for a successful pregnancy.
During the IVF procedures, the fertilized eggs are kept in a laboratory to divide and develop into an embryo for 2 to 5 days. Once the embryo is healthy, it is then placed inSIDE a woman’s uterus to achieve pregnancy.
Through this process, the embryo gets surrounded by Zona Pellucida. Zona Pellucida is a shell that surrounds the unfertilized egg and plays an important role in fertilization as it allows only one sperm to penetrate and enter the egg to achieve fertilization. For implantation to take place, the zona needs to break naturally. However, in certain cases, the outer layer of the embryo hardens, making it difficult for zona to break out naturally and if this doesn’t break then the embryo finds it difficult to implant inside the uterus and leads to IVF failures.
With the help of Laser Assisted Hatching, a small crack is created on the outer shell of the ZP through a laser shot to aid the embryo in the hatching process. A small concentrated laser beam is projected on the shell of the embryo for it to get dissolved thereby creating a small 10 to 20-micron hole. This process is done just before the embryo transfer and helps to improve implantation and pregnancy rates.
When is Laser Assisted Hatching recommended?
Everyone who goes through IVF doesn’t need to get Laser Assisted Hatching. It is useful in the following conditions:
- If you have experienced two or more failed IVF cycles
- If your embryo zona pellucida is thick
- If you are 38 years or older
- If you have an unexplained infertility
Failure to hatch is an extremely rare cause of infertility which needs to be addressed with a modern approach like Laser Assisted Hatching. It is important to discuss with your fertility doctor if this is the right treatment plan for you.
Is there any risk to embryos because of Laser Hatching?
Laser Hatching is a completely safe procedure as a laser shot is for a fraction of seconds and is done on the outer shell of the embryo.
FAQs
What is infertility?
Infertility is the inability of a couple to conceive even after a year of trying to get pregnant through unprotected and well-timed sexual intercourse in which the woman is under the age of 35. If the woman is above 35, it is diagnosed after six months of trying to get pregnant. Infertility can be due to male or female factors or even both. It can also be due to unexplained reasons.
Does age affect fertility and chances of conception?
Yes, age does affect a woman’s ability to have children. More and more women now prefer to wait until their 30s to conceive. A woman’s fertility starts to reduce from her 30s and more after the age of 35. As much as one-third of couples who face fertility problems are those where the woman’s age is above 35.
How does age affect a woman’s ability to have children?
Here are a few ways of how a woman’s ability conceive reduces due to her age:
- The ability of ovaries to release eggs ready for fertilization reduces with age
- The quality of eggs released reduces with an increase in the age of women
- An increase in age can lead to more health problems which may interfere with a woman’s fertility
- The risk of miscarriages increases as a woman ages
- Children born to older women tend to have more abnormalities
How long should women try to get pregnant before visiting a doctor?
Women who are healthy and below the age of 30 need not worry about infertility unless they have been trying to get pregnant for a year or so. If such is the case, they should talk to their doctor for a fertility evaluation. They should also ask their partners to do the same.
Women in their 30s trying to get pregnant should talk to their doctor after trying for 6 months as a woman’s chances of having a baby decline rapidly after the age of 30.
Is infertility only a woman’s problem?
No, infertility can affect both men and women. About one-third of cases of infertility are due to female factors and another one third are due to male factors. The remaining cases are either due to a mixture of both male and female factors or due to unknown reasons.
Can male infertility be treated?
In most cases, male infertility can be treated. Your doctor may suggest you use assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as IVF, ICSI, TESA and Micro-TESE. Although ART cannot cure or treat the causes of infertility, it can help couples achieve pregnancy even when the male’s sperm count is low or zero.
What are the risk factors for infertility?
There are several external factors, lifestyle choices, and environmental causes that can lead to infertility. Although some risk factors can be gender-specific, some common risk factors are:
- Age
- Smoking
- Alcohol Consumption
- Substance Abuse
- Obesity and Underweight
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Diabetes
- Tubal Disease
- Stress
- Genetic Causes
What are the ways to treat infertility?
There are many ways to treat infertility for both men and women. With advancing medical technologies, you and your partner along with your doctor can decide depending on the options available.
What causes infertility in women?
The most common reason for infertility in women is problems with ovulation. No ovulation or improper ovulation can prevent eggs from fertilizing or there may be no eggs at all. Irregular periods or no periods are a sign of no or improper ovulation. Some other causes of infertility include:
- Endometriosis
- PCOD/PCOS
- Uterine Fibroids
- Blocked Fallopian Tubes
- Physical problems with the uterus
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Several Miscarriages
- Unexplained Reasons
What causes infertility in men?
Infertility in men can be due to the following:
- Low or no sperm production
- Low motility of sperms- sperms inability to move fast or reach the egg to fertilize it
- Abnormal shape/structure of sperms that prevent it from fertilizing the egg
- Erectile Dysfunction or Retrograde Ejaculation
Sometimes, men may be born with these problems, and the other times, they may develop these problems due to an illness or injury.