How do they decide

whether or not to do assisted hatching?

Re: How do they decide

It depends on the eggs I think. If their 'shell' is too hard for the sperm to break thru, then they'll do assisted hatching which if I remember correctly is like an acid that they put on the egg briefly to break it down and in essence make it softer. HTH!

Re: How do they decide

From www.sharedjourney.com

What is Assisted Hatching?
Assisted hatching is a relatively new technique used during certain IVF procedures. It is performed in order to help an embryo hatch out of its protective layering and implant into the uterus.

During the initial stages of development, your embryo is contained in a layer of proteins, known as the zona pellicuda. The zona pellicuda is designed to protect the embryo until it reaches the blastocyst stage of development. In order to successfully implant into the uterine lining, the embryo needs to hatch out of this zona pellicuda and attach to the walls of the uterus.

Sometimes, embryos have a difficult time hatching out of their protective layer. This can occur if the zona pellicuda is too thick or if the embryo does not have enough energy to break through the layer. Assisted hatching attempts to help these embryos break out away from the zona pellicuda by creating a small hole in this outer lining.

How is Assisted Hatching Performed?
Assisted hatching is a very delicate procedure, requiring immense skill. It is performed using micromanipulation techniques, under a microscope, during the fourth day of embryo development.

The embryo is first placed in a petrie dish containing culture solution. A special pipette is then used to hold the embryo in place. The embryologist takes a hollow needle that contains an acidic solution and places it next to the zona pellicuda. A tiny bit of this acidic solution is released from the needle so that it comes into contact with the zona pellicuda. This acidic solution begins to slowly digest the protective layering, creating a small hole. The embryo is then washed in a special solution and placed back inside an incubator until embryo transfer can take place.

Who Can Use Assisted Hatching?
Assisted hatching techniques aren’t suitable for every couple. Instead, the procedure is typically recommended for:


women over the age of 37
women with elevated FSH on day 3 of their menstrual cycle
couples who have experienced failed IVF cycles
couples whose embryos have a particularly thick zona pellicuda

Risks Associated with Assisted Hatching
Unfortunately, there are some risks associated with assisted hatching procedures. In particular, assisted hatching procedures do seem to increase the likelihood that you will have identical twins (also known as monozygotic twins). This is because the micromanipulation technique used to break through the zona pellicuda can sometimes cause the embryo to split into two identical halves. There is also an increased risk of:


damage to the embryo, potentially causing death
fetal complications
physical deformity
conjoined twins

The procedure can sometimes also cause complications for the mother, including:


high blood pressure
infection
nausea
mood swings

These side effects are the result of the steroids and antibiotics that you must take during the transfer procedure. Because the protective layer surrounding the embryo has been compromised, it is essential that you take medications to slow your immune system down and to prevent infection of the embryo.

Advantages of the Assisted Hatching Procedure
Many couples elect to pursue assisted hatching during their IVF procedures. This is because the technique is associated with a number of benefits including:


fewer embryos required for transfer
increased implantation success rates
allows for blastocyst culture

Disadvantages of the Assisted Hatching Procedure
Unfortunately, assisted hatching does have its drawbacks. Specifically, assisted hatching is:


only suitable for certain groups of women
very difficult to perform and requires immense skills
can be associated with an increased risk of dangerous pregnancy complications

Re: How do they decide

Wow- thanks for the info!

Re: How do they decide

In my clinic, they just did it anyway because of my age and at the time I had a failed previous cycle.

Re: How do they decide

At LI IVF it is done based on age.