What is involved?

The embryos are cultured to day 3 (i.e. 6 to 8 cell stage) and the best 2 (or 3 for some women over 40) embryos selected for transfer. Assisted hatching will only be done on embryos designated for transfer. The embryo is held in place using a holding pipette and a small precision opening is created in the zona using a laser beam. The embryo is then cultured until the time of embryo transfer.

This photo shows the hole in the zona pellucida made by the laser beam