Treatment Series: Embryo Assisted Hatching

There is a common misconception that it is easy for all women to carry their pregnancy to term. Even those who overcome initial fertility challenges have the potential to lose their baby through a miscarriage. Thankfully, science has advanced to the point that embryo assisted hatching is helping couples fulfill their dream of reproducing.

An Inside Look at Embryo Assisted Hatching

Embryo assisted hatching sounds complex yet it is nothing to be fearful or nervous about. This advanced assisted reproductive technology has the potential to help you achieve a pregnancy after years of infertility. Assisted hatching is a unique reproductive technique. It is perfect for individuals who have endured multiple miscarriages as well as IVF attempts that did not produce the intended result. In short, this science-driven approach provides embryos with additional support on the path toward uterine implantation. Thus, resulting in a successful pregnancy.

Natural hatching occurs when sperm reaches an egg to create an embryo. Traditional conception involves the cells within the fertilized egg dividing on their own. The embryo that develops in the zona pellucida proteins, also referred to as the egg wall, hatch prior to implantation in the uterus lining. The hatching results from the expansion of the embryo along with the zona pellucida’s rupture.

Alternatively, embryo assisted hatching performed at Viera Fertility is a process that occurs in a lab with IFV, ICSI and the transfer of an embryo. Technicians who have undergone years of advanced training and education perform this unique type of hatching. Such an approach is embraced by couples who want to reproduce yet have suffered through several miscarriages or failed to succeed with ICSI and IFV protocols.

Why a Growing Number of Women are Choosing Embryo Assisted Hatching

There are several reasons why women are leaning toward embryo assisted hatching as time progresses. Certain women are saddled by medical conditions. Such circumstances can prevent an embryo from hatching and subsequently implanting as it should within the lining of the uterus. Women over the age of 35 are also starting to favor this unique approach to reproduction. This is typically because their fertility has decreased to the point that natural hatching is challenging or impossible.

Those who have carried fragmented embryos or embryos that are of low quality are also recognizing the merits of assisted hatching. In some cases, an especially girthy or otherwise-abnormal zona pellucida precludes the healthy development of an embryo into a fetus. A growing number of women who have suffered through one failed invitro fertilization attempt after another are also leaning toward assisted hatching.

FSH, short for follicle stimulating hormone, has the potential to be problematic in the context of pregnancy. Women who want a baby of their own yet generate egregiously high levels of FSH throughout their cycle are almost always considered solid candidates for assisted hatching. FSH stimulates follicle growth within the ovaries prior to the release of the egg at the point of ovulation.

Some women have a surplus of FSH and don’t know it until they attempt to reproduce. Baseline FSH levels are measured at our Melbourne fertility clinic to gauge whether the patient has an abundance of FSH, providing insight into whether there is sufficient ovarian reserve. If doctors determine the patient has an abundance of FSH, embryo assisted hatching is a viable option moving forward.

Embryo Assisted Hatching: Risk Versus Reward

Embryo assisted hatching carries a minor level of risk in that several studies indicate this approach heightens the chances of twinning. However, the odds of twinning are not much higher than that of twinning through other forms of intervention. Though lethal damage has the potential to occur amidst the transfer process or while in the lab, the latest technological innovations combined with the expertise of the lab technicians performing this unique procedure substantially decreases risk. The bottom line is no fertility treatment is guaranteed to result in the birth of a healthy infant.

Contact Us at Viera Fertility Center

The potential reward of embryo assisted hatching is much greater than the minimal risk. In the end, your decision to choose embryo assisted hatching is yours and yours only. Viera Fertility encourages you to consult with our board-certified specialists along with our caring counselors. Our fertility clinic in Melbourne is here to answer your questions and address your concerns. We will ensure you have the information necessary to make an informed and well-educated decision. Reach out to us today at 321.751.4673 (HOPE) or online through our contact form to learn more about embryo assisted hatching. We look forward to talking to you.