Fertility Care in Northern Ireland
Assisted Hatching is often used where the woman's eggs have a tougher or thicker zona than usual. The technique involves making a tiny hole in the egg just before the embryo is placed into the womb.
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All eggs are covered by a protective outer cover called the zona pellucida (egg shell). When the egg is fertilised this covering remains intact to protect the embryo. Normally as the embryo develops the egg shell becomes progressively thinner until eventually the embryo hatches out and attaches to the lining of the womb.
If the egg shell is abnormally thick these normal events might be compromised. In order to minimise this risk a small breach is made in the shell which theoretically helps the embryo hatch.
