Assisted Hatching (AH)

Assisted hatching is a technique performed in the laboratory to help increase the chance of successful implantation.

The zona pellucida is a thick membrane that surrounds the egg. Once the egg has been fertilized, the embryo must break out of this membrane layer in order to attach itself to the uterine wall. By making a small hole in the membrane, embryologists can aid implantation. This procedure is useful in cases involving older women or those with a high level of FSH whose eggs have a harder zona pellucida than those of younger women. Assisted hatching is also beneficial for women with a history of failed implantation.