LAH Center in Lucknow
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.