Assisted hatching Almaty

Assisted hatching

Nature has equipped the human egg and embryo with a protective shell, ensuring their safeguarding. This protective shell facilitates the encounter of the egg with the sperm. After fertilization, the shell undergoes a densification process to shield against additional sperm and external influences. Moreover, it stimulates the embryo’s continued development. In a natural scenario, around the 5-7th day of development, the embryo is expected to breach the shell and emerge from it. To facilitate this, the embryo produces specific enzymes that contribute to the thinning of the shell, allowing the embryo to exit and attach to the uterine mucosa. This attachment marks the initiation of pregnancy. The natural process of thinning and embryo exit is referred to as hatching. In situations where natural hatching doesn’t occur, couples may turn to in vitro fertilization (IVF) to fulfill their aspirations of parenthood.

After extensive research, experts discovered that embryos cultivated in laboratory settings for IVF often fail to produce an adequate amount of a specific enzyme crucial for thinning and rupturing the protective shell. This deficiency impedes pregnancy and diminishes the effectiveness of the IVF program. To address this challenge, the “artificial” hatching method was developed. In this procedure, embryologists create artificial incisions using micro-tools or employ specialized techniques to assist the embryo in its exit and subsequent attachment to the uterine mucosa.

When is assisted hatching performed?

• in cases when a woman is over 35 years old;
• in cases where there have already been failures in IVF due to the thickness of the embryo shell;
• in cases when a woman has exceeded the level of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone);
• in cases when the egg and embryo were frozen.