Assisted hatching is a process that occurs prior to embryos being placed into the uterus. Assisted hatching occurs in the laboratory. During assisted hatching, a small hole is made in the zona pellucida (the envelope around the embryo from which is “hatches” out of in order to implant in the uterus). Assisted hatching can be done by a number of methods including dissolving a portion of the zona with an acid solution or with the use of a laser. At ISIS, cleavage-stage embryos or blastocysts (day 5 embryos) are hatched with the use of a laser. To perform assisted hatching, the embryo is held with a specialized holding pipette. Then, a fine laser beam is aimed at the embryo and its zona. The embryo is then washed and put back in the culture media in the incubator before then being put into the uterus.
