Human oocytes and embryos are protected by an outer glycoprotein layer which surrounds them completely. This ‘shell’ is known as the Zona Pellucida. The process of hatching involves breakage of the zona pellucida at a particular location and the subsequent emergence of the blastocyst from the shell. Only after hatching can the embryo implant itself into the endometrial layer of the uterus.
Due to various reasons, this zona pellucida can harden or thicken. In such cases, the process of hatching might be incomplete or it might fail completely. This may result in implantation failure making any subsequent pregnancy impossible.
The IVF labs at Ridge IVF are equipped with state of the art Assisted Hatching technology. The procedure involves shooting a selected portion of the zona with controlled laser pulses. The energy contained in these pulses ablates a section of the zona, thereby making it easier for the embryo to hatch and implant. This significantly increases the chances of a successful pregnancy.
The process of Laser Assisted Hatching is quite fast and is extremely safe compared to other assisted hatching technologies on the market such as zona drilling or the use of harmful chemicals to digest a section of the zona. The disturbance to the embryos is minimal. Our experienced team of highly skilled scientists use the latest software to precisely control this sophisticated process and deliver optimal results.