Laser-Assisted Hatching: Your Answer to a Successful Pregnancy

Laser Assisted Hatching (LAH)

Laser-assisted hatching (LAH) is a supplementary procedure for patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. It helps the embryo hatch from its shell and improves its chances of implanting in the uterus. Those with a history of failed IVF treatments may find this technique helpful.

What is LAH?
When is LAH Recommended
What are the steps of LAH?
Things to Remember for Laser Assisted Hatching
FAQ'S

What is LAH?

In its initial stages, the embryo has a hard outer covering or shell called zona pellucida. After a few days of fertilisation, the embryo hatches out of this shell to implant into the uterus. This results in a pregnancy. However, sometimes, a thicker shell makes it difficult for the embryo to break out.

With LAH, a hole is made in the shell to assist the embryo in hatching out and attaching itself to the uterine wall.

LAH is usually advised by doctors for women above 35 or those who have had failed IVF treatments in the past. It is also done on frozen embryos as freezing can harden the shell.

Fertility treatment providers offer LAH as a complementary procedure to IVF. This artificial support to the embryo improves the chances of implantation rates and a successful pregnancy.

When is LAH recommended?

LAH is typically recommended in the following scenarios:

Advanced maternal age: In women over 35 with infertility issues, there is a higher likelihood of the zona pellucida failing to break. This is due to the diminished quality of the egg. It further reduces the chances of the embryo implanting itself into the uterus in the IVF treatment. LAH helps break the shell and assists the embryo in attaching to the uterine walls.
Diminished Ovarian Reserve: This can occur due to injury, disease or as a result of ageing. 10% to 30% of patients with infertility have a diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). IVF and LAH are recommended for women with DOR to increase their chances of pregnancy.
Repeated IVF Failures: Failed IVF is when good-quality embryos fail to implant or when a pregnancy ends in a miscarriage. IVF failures happen due to chromosomal abnormalities, poor quality of the egg and embryo, uterine abnormalities, high maternal age, sperm quality and the couple’s health condition.

What are the steps of LAH?

The LAH procedure consists of the following steps:

1. Stimulation: First, hormonal stimulation is employed to help produce multiple eggs. These eggs are observed and then retrieved once they reach their ideal size. This step is important as it ensures the availability of enough healthy eggs for the IVF treatment.

2. Fertilisation: These eggs are then exposed to high-quality sperm in a laboratory. This is where fertilisation occurs. These fertilised eggs, also called embryos, are then closely monitored while they grow.

3. Development of the Embryo: An embryologist monitors the development and progress of the embryo until it reaches the blastocyst stage. A blastocyst is made up of two parts: the inner group of cells and the trophectoderm, or the outer group of cells that prompts the uterine contact.

4. Laser Assisted Hatching: This is the stage where a laser is employed to make a crack or a hole in the shell of the embryo. A strong infra-red laser is focused on the zona pellucida under a microscope. It is a quick process of a few seconds that helps the embryo hatch out of the shell.

5. Transferring of the Embryo: Once the embryo hatches out of its shell, it is placed into the mother’s uterus. A thin catheter is used to transfer the embryo with the hope that it implants and initiates a pregnancy.

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Our Doctors

Gurgaon – Sector 14, Haryana

Dr. Prachi Benara

MBBS (Gold Medalist), MS (OBG), DNB (OBG) PG Diploma in Reproductive and Sexual health

Years of experience: 16+

Number of cycles: 3000+

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Kolkata , West Bengal

Dr. Souren Bhattacharjee

MBBS, DGO, FRCOG (London)

Years of experience: 34+

Number of cycles: 10,000+

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Kolkata, West Bengal

Dr. Swati Mishra

MBBS, MS (Obstetrics & Gynaecology)

Years of experience: 20+

Number of cycles: 3500+

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Lajpat Nagar, Delhi

Dr. Muskaan Chhabra

MBBS, MS (Obstetrics & Gynaecology) DNB (Obstetrics & Gynecology), Infertility Specialist

Years of experience: 13+

Number of cycles: 700+

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Dwarka, Delhi

Dr. Shilpa Singhal

MBBS, M.S., Diploma in Reproductive Medicine

Years of experience: 11+

Number of cycles: 700+

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Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Dr. Deepika Mishra

MBBS, MS (Obstetrics & Gynaecology)

Years of experience: 14+

Number of cycles: 2500+

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Things to Remember for Laser Assisted Hatching

Before the Treatment

The LAH procedure is carried out in a laboratory by an embryologist. The embryo is transferred from the culture dish to the dish reserved for the LAH process. The dish is then placed onto a micromanipulation microscope for the laser treatment. The hatched embryo will be delivered into your uterus after the procedure is complete.

During the Treatment

LAH is carried out three days after the embryo has developed.
A special laser is used for the procedure that is conducted in a laboratory.
The laser is focused on the shell of the embryo to make a hole in it.
It is a safe procedure and the laser does not reach the embryo which ensures its safety.
The procedure is carried out with extreme care and accuracy and is preferred over chemical or manual methods.

After the Treatment

While the procedure does not cause any pain, your doctor may give you a mild sedative to help you relax.
A thin catheter will be placed into your uterus through the vagina.
A syringe containing the embryo in a fluid will be attached to the other end of the catheter.
Through the syringe and the catheter, the embryo will be gently placed into your uterus.
The embryo will attach itself to your uterine lining in about 6 to 10 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Laser assisted hatching is done three days after fertilisation. After this procedure, the embryo can be cultured till the blastocyst stage or transferred into the uterus to attempt a pregnancy.

Laser assisted hatching is recommended for couples opting for a frozen embryo transfer as studies indicate frozen or thawed embryos have a harder zona pellucida making it tougher for them to hatch.

Laser assisted hatching is generally recommended for women older than the age of 37 years or if the couple are unable to conceive through conventional IVF therapy.

There is a very low risk of damage to the embryos. However, advances in LASER technology have made the risk of these complications almost negligible.

Laser Assisted Hatching (LAH)

What is LAH?

When is LAH recommended?

What are the steps of LAH?

Why Choose Us

Our Doctors

Dr. Prachi Benara

Dr. Souren Bhattacharjee

Dr. Swati Mishra

Dr. Muskaan Chhabra

Dr. Shilpa Singhal

Dr. Deepika Mishra