Laser-Assisted Hatching (LAH) in IVF- Zemya IVF
For many couples going through the formidable world of in vitro fertilization (IVF Treatment), embryo transfer can be both an anxious and an expectant one. You have healthy-looking embryos, a receptive uterine lining, and experienced doctors- yet somehow the embryo does not implant. One of the most promising breakthroughs in reproductive medicine in response to this particular obstacle is called Laser Assisted Hatching (LAH).
At Zemya IVF & Fertility Clinics, the Best IVF Clinic in Delhi, we use state-of-the-art technology to successfully bridge the gap from conception to conception. As the Best Fertility Clinic in Delhi, we feel that no detail is insignificant, and laser-assisted hatching is one such technique that could make all the difference to IVF patients.
What is Laser Assisted Hatching (LAH)?
To understand laser-assisted hatching, we first need to understand the anatomy of a natural embryo. All embryos are contained within a natural “eggshell” called the zona pellucida. This is a natural embryo shell “eggshell” that protects the fertilized eggs in their passage down through the fallopian tube to the uterus.
During natural conception, as the embryo develops to become a blastocyst stage, it starts growing larger while the zona pellucida becomes thinner. Finally, the embryo hatches by breaking through the zona pellucida in order to implant itself inside the uterus. This natural occurrence is known as hatching.
However, in some cases of IVF, the zona pellucida becomes either too thick or too tough for the embryo to hatch by itself. Assisted hatching refers to a medical intervention where the embryo’s zona pellucida is artificially opened in order for it to hatch and successfully implant itself.
LAH: How it Works
Until recently, aided hatching was achieved chemotherapeutically or manually, which was associated with a greater risk of damage to the fragile cells within.
Currently, IVF procedure laser-assisted hatching involves the use of highly focused laser beams.
- Precision: Within a relatively large magnifying glass, a microscopic laser beam is focused on the shell, which facilitates the structure of the embryo.
- Accuracy: The laser, as it penetrates the zona pellucida, is able to form a small hole, a small opening or a small crack.
- Speed: The complete process of hatching involves only a couple of seconds and limits the period during which the embryo is exposed to the outside environment.
- Safety: The laser is programmed in advance on the computer; it never comes in contact with the inner part of the embryo.Thanks to the creation of such a “safe passage” to the outside, hatching enables faster interaction with the wall of the uterus.
Who Should Consider Laser-Assisted Hatching?
Though LAH is a very useful technique, fertility specialists do not employ it in every IVF cycle. ‘It is usually used for patients with a poor prognosis or certain risk factors:
1. Advanced Maternal Age
With age, the age of the Z.P. tends to become thicker and denser and so more barriers are put in the way of the embryo. In elderly women ( usually over 37) LAH is often advantageous as the embryo finds it more difficult to break out of the shell without additional help.
2. Repeated IVF Failures
If an individual has had repeated IVF failures with top-grade embryos, then the problem may be hindering implantation.
LAH is the last mystery in a series of unexplained causes of IVF failure.
3. Zona Pellucida Thickness
A thick zona pellucida is one of the issues that may be observed by embryologists during the IVF process under the microscope. In this scenario, laser-assisted hatching is recommended to ensure success.
4. Frozen Embryos
Freezing (cryopreservation) procedures have been known to result in the thickening of the embryo’s outer covering. Consequently, laser-assisted hatching becomes common during the implantation of frozen embryos.
5. High Follicle Stimulating Hormone Levels
Women with high follicle-stimulating hormone levels are prone to creating embryos of inferior quality with a protective covering that is impenetrable.
The Benefits of LAH at Zemya IVF
When selecting the best IVF Centre in Delhi, it is important to select a centre that is leading the way in in vitro fertilisation research.
Zemya IVF & Fertility Clinics offers the following benefits when you choose our laser hatching protocol: Higher chance of successful implantation: If the embryo can hatch from the shell, the chance of successful implantation resulting in a positive pregnancy test increases dramatically.
Minimal Handling: The use of laser is totally non-contact, so that the embryo is exposed to much less handling as compared to chemical or mechanical techniques.
Enhanced timing of implantation: LAH permits earlier implantation of the embryo, better aligned with the “implantation window” of the endometrial lining.
Potential Risks
Nonetheless, despite its safety, there are still some cautions associated with the procedure of LAH, including the following:
Monozygotic Twins: There are studies that indicate that there may be instances where the hatching process might result in identical twins.
Skill is Crucial: The process needs to be conducted by an expert embryologist. At our Delhi-based Fertility Clinic, our fertility experts have successfully conducted many LAH procedures.
Quality of Embryos: LAH cannot make poor-quality embryos better, but only those good embryos that happen to be trapped inside their outer shell.
Why Should You Select Zemya IVF & Fertility Clinics?
Zemya IVF, the Best IVF Clinic in Delhi, is committed to providing customized services. We don’t follow a “one size fits all” policy. Our experienced infertility specialists will assess each case of the IVF process and find out whether there is a need for laser-assisted procedures.
Our clinic merges cutting-edge technology with caring treatment, making sure that each patient feels comfortable during the whole procedure. From fertilizing the egg cells in the lab to transferring the embryo into your womb, we will always be by your side.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. When taken along by a fertility specialist at Zamya IVF, the laser is used on the “shell” of the embryo (in the zona pellucida) only, but never on the inner cells.
No, LAH doesn’t alter the embryo quality. It just allows a healthy embryo, that is struggling to “break out”, to implant.
Young women tend to have thinner and more pliable zona pellucida, so the use of LAH is generally unnecessary. However, it could be considered when there is a record of failed attempts at in vitro fertilization.
Natural hatching is a natural phenomenon that occurs within the womb. LAH is termed “assisted” since it is conducted within the laboratory before transferring in order to ensure that it occurs successfully.
Even though success rates may vary, studies indicate that LAH plays a significant role in increasing the success rate of IVF among specific populations such as elderly women.