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A micromanipulation technique in which the shell around the egg (the zona pellucida) is opened or thinned to facilitate the embryo hatching process. Human blastocysts must hatch from the zona pellucida by day 6-7 after insemination in order to implant into the uterine wall. The clinical use of assisted hatching followed studies showing that cleaving embryos with a good prognosis produce a compound that thins the outer shell in preparation for hatching. In addition, fertilized embryos with artificial gaps made in their shells were shown to have high rates of implantation. Assisted hatching involves drilling through the zona using an acid solution to partially thin an area of the zona (~50 µm across), and in some cases create a small hole all the way through the zona. Several studies have reported the beneficial effects of assisted hatching in terms of higher pregnancy rates in IVF .
Assisted hatching may be performed on cleavage stage embryos from day 2-4 (2-12 cells). Extra care is required at the early stages not to make too large a hole that could result in cell loss prior to cell junction formation (at around the 8-cell stage). Assisted hatching may also be performed on compacted embryos and day 5-6 expanded blastocysts.
Assisted hatching at Reproductive Sciences Center is somewhat selective in that hatching is not performed on all cases and is particularly recommended for the following categories of patients:
(a) advanced maternal age (>38 years),
(b) elevated basal FSH levels,
(c) embryos that have uniform thick zona layers (> 15 mm),
(d) a previous failed IVF cycle, and
(e) all frozen embryos.
Recently there has been an upward trend in the number of cases with assisted hatching being performed at Reproductive Sciences Center. Periodic reviews of data have suggested higher pregnancy rates are associated with assisted hatching. The actual technique used has been slightly modified to reduce the risk of damage or cell loss, particularly for embryos with thin shells. For such embryos, zona thinning across a larger area of the outer zona layer avoiding complete penetration through the inner layer may be preferable.
Recent fertility research studies have suggested a possible link between assisted hatching and monozygotic twinning (identical twinning) which may be caused by part of the inner cell mass (the embryonic part of the blastocyst) being trapped in the artificial hole created by the assisted hatching . As yet this has not been observed at our center and may be linked to the hatching technique (i.e. size of hole created in the zona).
Our fertility specialists at The Reproductive Sciences Center, or RSC, are conveniently located in La Jolla California in San Diego County. We have worked hard to create and maintain our reputation as the first-rate San Diego fertility clinic and sciences center. RSC has become synonymous with comprehensive and successful female and male infertility treatment, egg donor programs and surrogacy options, in vitro fertilization, ICSI and more.
While we have provided services to hundreds of patients throughout the Temecula, Murrieta, La Jolla, Riverside,San Bernardino and Encinitas areas, we also help many people from across the United States, Europe, Australia , Asia, Africa and the Americas who make us their final destination for treatment with infertility in San Diego. We lead the area as one of the leading fertility centers in the world.
Our fertility center has long been established as having one of the highest fertility success rates in the world, and with more than 75 years of combined medical training, experience and ongoing continuing education, our fertility specialists set the bar for the industry. Our medical director and leading fertility doctor is one of the most well-respected experts in the world.
Successful fertility treatment in San Diego is only possible with the best fertility specialists and staff in OrangeCounty. We have been providing unsurpassed treatment for infertility in San Diego, including IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) and other San Diego fertility services in La Jolla for more than a decade.
Some of our successful options for fertility treatment in San Diego include natural fertility treatment, advanced fertility treatment, IUI (Intrauterine Insemination), San Diego In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), ICSI for severe male infertility, genetic testing, embryo donation, blastocyst transfers, assisted hatching, and more. We are the top professionals of fertility options for women with cancer and fertility options for men with cancer in San Diego as well.
You can find patient testimonials, interviews, news features and personal stories about our San Diego infertility treatment programs on the Internet by searching for: Dr. Wood, Dr. Sam Wood, Dr. Adams, La Jolla fertility clinic, San Diego egg donors, fertility San Diego, fertility specialists, IVF clinic, ICSI, male fertility clinic and fertility clinic.
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