Laser versus mechanical assisted hatching: a prospective study of clinical outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To compare clinical outcomes after laser or mechanical techniques of assisted hatching (AH) in women of advanced age undergoing IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).


METHODS
Prospective randomized study.


METHODS
Center for Human Reproduction, Genesis Clinic, Athens, Greece.


METHODS
Three hundred and sixteen consenting women of advanced age (> or =39 years) with primary infertility undergoing IVF/ICSI programs and having available embryos for transfer on day 3. Patients were randomized into laser or mechanical AH of their transferred embryos.


METHODS
Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, oocyte retrieval, IVF/ICSI, laser or mechanical AH, and embryo-transfer.


METHODS
Implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and viable pregnancy rate.


RESULTS
The implantation rate was significantly higher in the laser AH group. Clinical and viable pregnancy rates were higher (but not significantly) in the laser AH group.


CONCLUSIONS
Laser AH of embryos may result in better clinical outcomes when compared to the mechanical technique in women of advanced age undergoing IVF or ICSI.
Makrakis
Evangelos
E
Center for Human Reproduction, Genesis Clinic, Athens, Greece. emakrakis@hotmail.com <emakrakis@hotmail.com>
Angeli
Irene
I
Agapitou
Kristi
K
Pappas
Konstantinos
K
Dafereras
Alex
A
Pantos
Konstantinos
K
D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D019563:Mechanics; D042282:Microdissection / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome