Laser assisted hatching (LAH) is a technique where the zona pellucida is disrupted to improve implantation and therefore live birth rates from embryos created through IVF. Although there may be a benefit to performing LAH on fresh embryos in certain patient populations, the routine use of LAH for all patients undergoing a fresh embryo transfer has not been shown to improve live birth rates. For more information:
Carney SK, et al. Assisted hatching on assisted conception in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012. PMID: 23235584.
Pfeifer S, et al. Role of assisted hatching in in vitro fertilization: a guideline. Fertil Steril 2014;102:348-51. PMID: 24951365.
Sagoskin AW, et al. Laser assisted hatching in good prognosis IVF-ET patients: a randomized controlled trial. Fertil Steril 2007;87:283-7. PMID: 17094975.