For the first 5 to 7 days of development, the embryo is surrounded and protected by an outer shell called the Zona Pelucida. In normal circumstances, when the embryo reaches the uterus, this zona partially dissolves and the embryo comes out of it (hatching), allowing it to implant in the uterus.
In some patients, it is thought that infertility may be due to defects in Zona Pellucida (hardening or thickening), which makes it difficult for the embryo to hatch and implant.
It is an advanced technique carried on embryos before they are transferred in the uterus following an IVF or ICSI cycle. The process weakens the zona either by breaching it or making it thinner. This helps the embryo to come out. Advanced tools like LASER are used for this (LAH). The goal is to overcome all the odds that are preventing implantation or successful pregnancy.
Thinning a portion of the outer embryo shell (instead of breaching) by a laser for facilitating embryo’s hatching process i.e it does not involve the complete opening of the protective layer and internal environment of the embryo remains intact.
At IHR, since 2012 we cryopreserve most of our embryos and prefer to transfer in further cycles. This gives us better success rates (see our success rate page).
Once the embryo reaches the 8 cell on Day 3 or blastocyst stage on Day 5, these are preserved in liquid nitrogen at -196°C, by a process called Vitrification.
When an embryo is cryopreserved or vitrified, it is thought the outer shell may change as a result of the freezing process. If it becomes brittle or hardened and is without progressive thinning, a normal embryo may not be able to hatch and permit implantation.
Patients, who in an earlier IVF cycle had a low fertilization rate, resulting in three or fewer embryos.
It is the most modern approach. It utilizes a machine with specialized software that aids in positioning, intensity, and focus of the lasers. In this method, the thickness of the Zona is measured, allowing our embryologists to minimize the heat delivered to the adjacent inner cell mass.
Our lab at IHR has all the necessary equipment (see our Infrastructure) and skilled Embryologists (see Why Choose IHR?) for LAH procedure.
At present we are also doing another procedure called LAZT.
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