Laser-Assisted Hatching (LAH) Treatment in IVF

Laser Assisted Hatching, commonly referred to as LAH, is a method where a hole is created using laser in the zona pellucida (outer shell) of embryo.  By thinning or opening the zona pellucida, LAH makes it easier for the embryo to break free and latch on endometrium of uterus for implantation. This increases the odds of a successful pregnancy.

Laser-assisted hatching in IVF is a simple process where an embryologist uses a strong light beam to create a gap between the embryo for it to come out. It is done usually just before transfer of blastocyst embryo.   The embryo is then transferred to the uterus of women for it to grow. The procedure takes only a few seconds and does not harm the embryo. It is performed under experienced supervisors using advanced technology.

Laser-assisted hatching treatment is not for everyone who goes for IVF treatment. Doctors suggest LAH to only specific couples. They will first analyse all your medical records and history and then inform you if you can go for this surgery. Here are some reasons why you should go for laser-assisted hatching treatment:

• If you failed to get pregnant two times by IVF,
• Frozen embryo transfer
• If you are 38 years or older, and
• Unexplained fertility.

The success rate of laser-assisted hatching greatly increased the clinical rates of pregnancy in all cases. There are big differences between groups I and II when it comes to chemical (50.99% vs. 31.61%), clinical (50% vs. 30.69%), and multiple pregnancies (22.27% vs. 5.94%) rates. In women over 35 years old, performing LAH greatly increased the chances of chemical pregnancy (30.12%) and clinical pregnancy (27.71%) compared to women who did not undergo LAH (18.96% and 16.37%, respectively)

The risks of laser-assisted hatching treatment are about the same as those of other IVF or ICSI methods. Because this method gets in the way of the natural hatching process, it comes with some small risks.

• The egg could be killed before or after the transfer, which would mean there is no pregnancy.
• Sometimes, embryos may still not be able to hatch properly after the laser treatment helps them do so.
• A high-risk pregnancy can happen after laser-assisted hatching, but it only happens a little less than 1% of the time.
• This method could also lead to more than one pregnancy, which raises the risk even more.