The effect of assisted hatching on pregnancy rates after frozen embryo transfer.
OBJECTIVE
To compare clinical pregnancy and implantation rates after transfer of frozen-thawed embryos prepared according to an assisted hatching protocol or a nonassisted hatching protocol.


METHODS
A historical cohort study in which a cohort of patients who underwent an assisted hatching protocol was matched for clinical parameters to an external historical cohort treated before assisted hatching was available.


METHODS
In vitro fertilization-ET facility of a university-based practice.


METHODS
Seventy-nine matched pairs.


METHODS
Nonassisted hatching patients: embryos were thawed, cultured in human tubal fluid + 0.5% bovine serum albumin until 48 hours and transferred. Assisted hatching patients: embryos thawed, cultured in human tubal fluid + 10% synthetic serum substitute until 72 hours, had assisted hatching and transferred.


METHODS
Clinical pregnancy (gestational sac) and implantation rates.


RESULTS
Twelve (15.2%) clinical pregnancies per transfer in nonhatched group versus 24 (30.4%) in hatched group. Nonhatched group: 284 embryos transferred; 15 (5.3%) implanted. Three pregnancies (25.0%) had two sacs. Hatched embryos: 269 were transferred; 37 (13.7%) implanted. Eleven pregnancies (45.8%) were multiple gestations (9 twins, 2 triplets).


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical pregnancy and implantation rates were higher for group having assisted hatching protocol. It is not clear whether the improvement is due to the overall methodology change or to assisted hatching. Assisted hatching using the zona-drilling technique is not detrimental to frozen-thawed human embryos and may be beneficial.
Check
J H
JH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Cooper Hospital, USA.
Hoover
L
L
Nazari
A
A
O'Shaughnessy
A
A
Summers
D
D
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015925:Cryopreservation; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*