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The zona pellucida is a protective membrane that surrounds the oocyte and, subsequently, the embryo. In order to attach to the uterus, the blastocyst must “hatch”, that is, free itself from this membrane so that its cells can come into direct contact with the endometrium (the inner layer of the uterus).
The hatching or assisted hatching procedure consists of making a small incision in the zona pellucida of the embryo just before transferring it to the uterus. This technique facilitates the exit of the blastocyst, thus favouring the implantation process.
At HC Fertility we are equipped with the RI Saturn 5 laser system, which allows us to precisely make these holes in the zona pellucida following the established path, without the need to manually move the pipette that holds the embryo. Not only does this speed up the procedure, but it also reduces the risk of damaging the blastocyst, thereby improving the safety and efficacy of the technique.