Laser Assisted Hatching (LAH) is an advanced assisted reproductive technique performed during an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) cycle. It involves creating a tiny opening in the embryo’s outer shell, known as the zona pellucida, using a highly precise medical laser.
Before an embryo can implant successfully into the uterus, it must naturally break through this outer shell in a process known as “hatching.” In some situations, the zona pellucida may become thicker or harder, making it more difficult for the embryo to hatch on its own. Laser Assisted Hatching is designed to support this natural process by creating a small opening that may assist the embryo during implantation.
Although LAH is considered an IVF add-on treatment, it is not routinely recommended for every patient. Instead, it is used selectively when there is evidence that assisted hatching may offer clinical benefit based on an individual’s fertility history and embryo characteristics.
Laser Assisted Hatching is generally recommended for patients with specific clinical indications rather than being used routinely during every IVF cycle.
Your fertility specialist may consider LAH if you:
Because every fertility journey is different, the decision to perform Laser Assisted Hatching is based on a careful review of your reproductive history, embryo quality, and overall treatment plan.
Laser Assisted Hatching is performed by experienced embryologists in a specialised embryology laboratory using advanced microscopic equipment.
The process begins as part of a standard IVF treatment cycle. Eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and fertilised with sperm using conventional IVF or advanced techniques such as Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) when clinically appropriate.
The embryos are then cultured in the laboratory for several days while embryologists monitor their development.
Before embryo transfer, a highly controlled medical laser is used to create a tiny opening or thin a small section of the embryo’s outer shell.
The procedure is extremely precise and is completed within a matter of seconds without direct contact with the embryo itself.
The aim is to assist the embryo in completing the natural hatching process that normally occurs before implantation.
Following Laser Assisted Hatching, the selected embryo is transferred into the uterus during the appropriate stage of the IVF treatment cycle.
Depending on your treatment plan, the embryo transfer may occur during a fresh IVF cycle or after a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) cycle if the embryo has previously been cryopreserved.
Laser Assisted Hatching is considered an advanced IVF technology that may benefit carefully selected patients, particularly when previous treatment history suggests implantation challenges.
Some situations where LAH may be recommended include:
As women age, changes in egg quality and embryo development may affect implantation. Older patients may also produce embryos with a thicker zona pellucida, making assisted hatching a consideration during IVF.
For patients who have experienced multiple unsuccessful embryo transfers despite transferring good-quality embryos, Laser Assisted Hatching may be considered as part of a broader review of the treatment strategy.
Cryopreservation and thawing can sometimes alter the characteristics of the embryo’s outer shell. In selected frozen embryo transfer cycles, assisted hatching may help support the implantation process.
Women with reduced ovarian reserve may produce embryos that could potentially benefit from assisted hatching as part of an individualised IVF treatment plan.
It is important to note that Laser Assisted Hatching is not suitable for every patient, and current clinical evidence supports its use primarily in carefully selected situations rather than as a routine procedure.
For patients who meet the appropriate clinical criteria, Laser Assisted Hatching may provide several potential benefits during IVF treatment.
These may include:
Because implantation depends on many different factors, LAH should always be considered as one component of a comprehensive fertility treatment strategy rather than a guarantee of pregnancy.
Modern IVF often combines several advanced laboratory techniques to optimise treatment based on each patient’s fertility diagnosis.
Depending on your individual needs, Laser Assisted Hatching may be used alongside other advanced reproductive technologies such as Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT), EmbryoGlue, Physiological Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (PICSI), Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Injection (IMSI), or Microfluidic Sperm Sorting. These procedures are recommended only when they are expected to provide clinical benefit and form part of a personalised treatment approach rather than a routine protocol.
Your fertility specialist will explain whether any of these technologies are appropriate for your specific IVF cycle.
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