Assisted Hatching in IVF: Helping Embryos Implant Successfully
Learn how assisted hatching may support embryo implantation in IVF, especially after repeated unsuccessful transfers.
In short: Assisted hatching is the making of a small opening in the shell of the embryo before transfer, with a microneedle, a chemical or a laser, to help it implant. It is used mainly for women whose good-quality embryos repeatedly fail to implant, and it can be combined with genetic testing of the embryos.
When an embryo fails to implant after being transferred to the uterus, it can be one of the most frustrating moments in an IVF journey — especially for couples who have already faced repeated unsuccessful attempts, even with good-quality embryos. In many of these cases, the exact reason for implantation failure remains unclear. To help address this, embryologists developed a technique called Assisted Hatching, designed to support the embryo’s natural process of attaching to the uterine lining.
Every human egg is surrounded by a protective outer layer called the zona pellucida. This “shell” plays an important role in shielding the egg and early embryo from immune cells and other potentially harmful substances in the reproductive tract.
Since the early 1990s, researchers have explored creating a tiny opening in this outer shell before the embryo is transferred to the uterus, during its early stage of division. This small opening may help the embryo “hatch” more easily and attach to the uterine lining. Studies have shown that the risk of damaging the embryo during this process is very low.
However, large reviews of the research (Cochrane 2021) have not shown that assisted hatching increases the chance of having a baby for most patients, and international guidelines (ESHRE 2023) do not recommend it routinely. It may be considered in selected situations — for example, after repeated implantation failure, with frozen-thawed embryos, or when the shell appears unusually thick — after discussion with your specialist. It’s worth noting that performing a similar procedure on an unfertilized egg carries a slightly higher risk (around 4%) of damage, since the shell of a fertilized embryo tends to be more flexible and resilient.
The tiny opening can be created using several methods: a fine microscopic needle, a specialized chemical solution, or a precise laser — each performed under controlled laboratory conditions by trained embryologists, as shown in the videos below.
Assisted Hatching by Mechanical Method
Assisted Hatching by Laser
It is important to remember that the most common cause of implantation failure remains chromosomal abnormalities within the embryo itself, regardless of the laboratory technique used. In some situations, chromosomal testing of embryos (PGT-A) may be discussed with your specialist; it can help select embryos in certain cases, but it has not been shown to increase the overall chance of a baby for everyone, so it is offered after careful, individual discussion.
If you have experienced repeated implantation failure despite good-quality embryos, please speak with the team at Dr Najeeb Layyous’s clinic — a personalised assessment can help identify the options most suited to your situation.
Dr Najeeb Layyous F.R.C.O.G
Consultant Obstetrician, Gynecologist and Infertility Specialist
The finest doctor in Jordan — may God bless him and his whole medical team. A doctor in every sense of the word. I advise anyone planning a pregnancy to visit Dr. Najeeb Layyous. His manner is wonderful, always smiling, with the highest ethics; he gives every patient her due, and the patient’s comfort matters most to him. We had been to many doctors and none understood and treated my case except him. Special thanks to him and the whole team, and to Dina in particular — a lovely person. I recommend anyone considering IVF or pregnancy to visit his clinic.