Assisted Hatching (AH)

Assisted Hatching (AH) is a procedure in which an artificial weakness is created in the shell surrounding an embryo. As embryos develop they reach a stage where they need to “hatch” out of their protective shell before the embryo can implant. In some cases, such as older women or those with a raised FSH, it is believed that this protective shell may become hardened, making it more difficult for the embryo to hatch without assistance.

Assisted hatching is performed on the embryos selected for embryo transfer by the Embryologist using microscope-guided micromanipulators.