Assisted Hatching
Assisted Hatching (AHA) or Zona drilling.
Assisted hatching, also called zona drilling, is a technical treatment carried out on fertilised human eggs either using laser treatment or by chemically altering the egg membrane – either a part is removed or small holes are produced in the egg membrane just before the eggs are transferred.
Finally, assisted hatching can also take place surgically, at almost no risk to the embryo. We loosen the zona pellucida on one side/end, like taking the top off an egg, and allow the “flap” to remain attached at one side like a lid.
FER (Frozen Embryo Replacement)
Egg donation
Extraction of sperm cells from the epididymes
This enables the embryo’s cells to more easily grow out of the egg membrane (zona pellucida) and attach/adhere themselves to the inside of the uterine membrane (hatching).
The technique has been used in Denmark and abroad for years and is effective in the treatment of certain groups of patients, e.g. women over 40, or women who have had good eggs transferred many times without achieving pregnancy.
Naturally, good, satisfactory results require that the fertilised eggs have normal gene material, normal chromosomes, and are not damaged. The technique is based on an individual assessment and in consultation with the couple when the following conditions/indications are fulfilled. Under these circumstances, the results have been just as good as regular IVF treatment where there is no indication for AHA.
Assisted hatching is indicated:
1. After several failed IVF/ICSI treatments.
2. For women over 40 who have not achieved pregnancy after several treatments.
3. For women in whom the zona pellucida (egg membrane) is thickened.
The technique adds an additional DKK 3,000 to the price of IVF treatment.
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