IVF Success Boost with Assisted Hatching

IVF Success boost with Assisted Hatching by allowing earlier embryo–endometrium interaction

The most successful IVF cycles are those that have the Assisted Hatching technique to boost the embryo implantation skills. IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) cycles are always the blend of the cutting–edge techniques and high technologies that successfully manage the most severe cases.

One of the management techniques is called Assisted Hatching. It is designed to save the embryo life. Sometimes the embryo (blastocyst) has extremely thick zona pellucida. Disrupting it is impossible for the embryo because it is too thick. This cutting–edge micro-manipulation or cutting–edge microsurgery (depends on the chosen technique) creates a hole in the zona pellucida and the embryo meteorites pearls hatch outside.

What is spontaneous hatching and blastocyst hatching?

After the fertilization, the embryo continues to grow. Observe the article’s head photo, you can see a tiny embryo inside the translucent envelope “zona pellucida.” Those “meteorites pearls” visible inside the translucent envelope is your embryo! The embryo is secured by the zona pellucida that is also “flexible” (elastic) enough for “him” or “her” to be inside for the first days after fertilization.

But soon there will be more and more meteorites pearls “inside”. There will be no space for “him” or “her” to be inside this elastic translucent envelope because there will be too many meteorites pearls in the area. Now I'm sure you're wondering what happens next? When there are too many “meteorites pearls” (embryonic cells) inside the fertilized oocyte, to turn into the embryo–bundle, the oocyte’s envelope (zona pellucida) should be torn by those “meteorites pearls”!

When the moment comes, the “meteorites pearls” should be “powerful enough” to “appear” outside through tearing the zona pellucida. This is called “spontaneous hatching” or “Embryo Hatching.” The embryo must spontaneously rupture through zona pellucida layer, hatch outside and only after that the successful implantation occurs.

But some “meteorites pearls” (called blastocysts) fail to hatch despite thinning of zona–pellucida that seems that they may not implant in the womb at all. If the “attempts” to hatch from the zona pellucida fail, the embryo (blastocyst) dies.

What is Assisted Hatching?

Assisted Hatching is the cutting–edge micromanipulation technique that is used in the IVF cycles to increase the implantation potential of embryos when transferring them to the maternal uterus. Moreover, Assisted Hatching improves embryo implantation by allowing earlier embryo–endometrium interaction.

This technique enables the embryo to disrupt the zona pellucida and spontaneously hatch outside. Usually, it is performed on Day 3, Day 5 or Day 6 of embryo development. There are four techniques of assisted hatching that may be performed: Laser Hatching, mechanical Assisted Hatching (partial zona dissection), acid tyrode assisted hatching, and assisted hatching by pronase thinning of the zona pellucida.

Assisted Hatching is a cutting–edge solution for the fertilized oocytes with thick zona pellucida (the thickness is taken to the extreme), for fertilized oocytes with poor prognosis, for cases with repeated miscarriages (embryo implantation failure occurred many times in previous IVF cycles).

Assisted Hatching for disrupting the zona pellucida

Mechanical Assisted Hatching

Mechanical Assisted Hatching involves ideally synchronized in the timeline sequence of delicate microsurgical manipulations performed in the embryo laboratory. These manipulations are performed under the Inverted Microscope for ICSI and IMSI, under In Vitro Fertilization Micromanipulation system with ICSI Micromanipulator or under Micromanipulator for ICSI. Using the holding micropipette to hold embryo tightly and Assisted Hatching micropipette with microneedle to make a cross–shaped slit, the embryologist creates a microsurgical cut called the hole in the zona pellucida to enable Embryo Hatching. After mechanical Assisted Hatching procedure the embryos are returned to the culture medium and stored until Embryo Transfer.

Acid tyrode Assisted Hatching

Acid tyrode Assisted Hatching is the blended technique that involves surgical micromanipulation and acid tyrode. This technique is done in the same way as mechanical Assisted Hatching. Inverted Microscope for ICSI and IMSI and microtools are necessary to perform acid tyrode Assisted Hatching. The embryo is immobilized and held tightly by the holding micropipette. The injection micropipette containing acid tyrode solution is used to blow the acid tyrode over the external surface of the zona pellucida. After that, the embryologist rinses several times the embryos to wash the excess acid tyrode and returns them to the culture media until Embryo Transfer.

Laser–Assisted Hatching

ICSI is usually performed in tandem with Laser–Assisted Hatching three days after ICSI procedure. But Laser–Assisted Hatching may be performed on embryos fertilized by “being in one dish” with sperm in the IVF cycle. To perform Laser–Assisted Hatching, the embryologist needs IVF Workstation or Inverted Microscope for ICSI and IMSI and Zona Laser Treatment System. Laser–Assisted Hatching involves thinning of the zona pellucida and drilling the zona pellucida by laser shots. The opening in the zona pellucida helps the embryo to hatch. Laser zona pellucida breaching technique doesn’t have the adverse consequences, therefore, is used in many embryology laboratories nowadays.

Assisted Hatching by pronase thinning of the zona pellucida

This Assisted Hatching technique is used to thin the zona pellucida without microsurgical manipulations. This technique excludes the microsurgical disruption of the zona pellucida. Instead of disrupting the zona pellucida, it is thinned. The embryologist transfers the embryos to the pronase solution for stretching and softening of the zona pellucida. After that, the embryos are placed on the heated stage of an inverted microscope for ICSI and IMSI to investigate if the zona pellucida had expanded in size and if it had become more delicate and fragile. After that, the embryos are accurately washed and transferred into the incubator until the Embryo Transfer.

Something to say? 

Envision in your mind the pearl–shaped translucent sparkling envelope that is elastic and thick. Imagine that there are many meteorites pearls: golden pearls, copper pearls, champagne pearls, and white pearls. And every moment more and more pearls appear inside. If the envelope doesn’t tear, the meteorites pearls will be disrupted. The same happens to the embryo if it doesn’t hatch from the zona pellucida. The embryo may die.

But this is manageable after implementing the Assisted Hatching in IVF Protocols. Assisted Hatching “gives” the embryo “breathing space.” This is really a cutting–edge touch that secures the tiny embryo–bundle’s life. When it is “hard to breathe for the embryo,” this technique helps the embryo “to breathe.” Brilliant  in every way.