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Assisted hatching for IVF at TFP Fertility

The world of fertility is continuously advancing, and scientists are discovering new and innovative ways to help people create their longed-for family.

Here's more about the technique of assisted hatching.

Assisted hatching

What is assisted hatching?

Laser assisted hatching is an optional add on technique that aims to advance in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatments and intends to increase their success rate. 

 

An embryo (a fertilised egg) is surrounded by a thick shell known as the zona pellucida, or just the zona.  

 

Before the embryo can attach itself to the womb, it must ‘hatch’ and break out of the zona shell. This process is known as hatching.  

 

If the embryo can’t break out of its shell, it won’t be able to attach itself to the lining of the womb, resulting in an unsuccessful implantation.  

 

This is where assisted hatching aims to help. 

 

The process involves a small hole being made in the zona or the zona shell is deliberately weakened with a laser, to help the embryo hatch out of the zona and implant successfully onto the womb.  

 

Assisted hatching may increase the chances of pregnancy in some cases. 

 

By choosing TFP Fertility for your assisted hatching procedure, you have access to a world of fertility expertise and knowledge that comes from over 35 years of experience and a network of clinics across Europe. 

FAQs

Is assisted hatching right for you?

Assisted hatching is not recommended for all IVF and ICSI patients.  

 

It’s most suitable for patients who: 

  • Are over the age of 38 

  • Have had multiple unsuccessful IVF of ICSI attempts with no known issues with their embryos 

  • Have embryos that have been frozen during the frozen embryo transfer process, that may have developed a thickened zona 

 

Our experienced clinicians at TFP Fertility clinics will discuss whether assisted hatching is right for your individual situation. 

Are there any risks with assisted hatching?

With any procedure comes some risk. Although the overall process is safe, in some rare cases, there’s a small risk the embryo can be damaged during the assisted hatching process. 

 

If the embryo is damaged, it cannot be used in the embryo transfer. 

Will assisted hatching increase your chances of getting pregnant?

Assisted hatching may increase implantation in some cases though currently, in most cases assisted hatching has the same success rates as normal IVF procedures.  

 

There’s not enough strong evidence to suggest that assisted hatching will increase your chances of getting pregnant during IVF or ICSI treatments. 

 

The results of assisted hatching studies remain inconclusive and more research needs to be done in this area.  

 

If you’d like to know more about assisted hatching, you can contact us, and our experienced fertility team will help guide you and answer any questions you may have.  

How does assisted hatching work?

Assisted hatching will take place right before the embryo is transferred.  

Your TFP Fertility specialist embryologist will use a microscope with a laser to create a small hole safely and accurately in the zona shell.  

The embryo cells will not be affected by the laser assisted hatching and will now be able to break out of its shell easier.  

The embryo is then transferred into the womb, and you’ll have regular check-ups with your doctor. 

We offer this service in:

  • TFP Nurture Fertility

    TFP Nurture Fertility

    NG10 5QG Nottingham

    +44 0115 828 0246

  • TFP Simply Fertility

    TFP Simply Fertility

    CM2 8HN Chelmsford

    01245 371849

  • TFP Thames Valley Fertility

    TFP Thames Valley Fertility

    SL6 4BY Maidenhead

    01628 702632

  • TFP Boston Place Fertility

    TFP Boston Place Fertility

    NW1 6ER London

    0203 131 2152

  • TFP Wessex Fertility

    TFP Wessex Fertility

    SO30 2UN Southampton

    0203 1318630

  • TFP Oxford Fertility

    TFP Oxford Fertility

    OX4 2HW Oxford

    01865 224819

  • TFP Belfast Fertility

    TFP Belfast Fertility

    BT3 9JQ Belfast

    028 9009 7315

  • TFP GCRM Fertility

    TFP GCRM Fertility

    G51 4FD Glasgow

    0141 413 0715

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