A study comparing three different laser-assisted hatching techniques.
OBJECTIVE
Laser-assisted hatching (LAH) is recognized as a useful technology to improve clinical pregnancy rates and implantation rates. This study reports the differences between a new LAH method and two conventional LAH techniques.


METHODS
The authors studied 151 patients with repeated implantation failure, who were divided into three groups.


RESULTS
In group 1, the zona pellucida (ZP) was opened using LAH (n = 52). In group 2, laser-assisted thinning was performed to dissolve the outer layer of the ZP (n = 49). In group 3, laser-assisted thinning was performed to dissolve the inner layer of the ZP (n = 50). The clinical pregnancy rates and implantation rates among the groups were compared. The results demonstrate that there are significant differences in the clinical pregnancy rates and implantation rates between group 3 and the other two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Performing laser-assisted thinning to dissolve the inner layer of the ZP markedly increases the pregnancy rates and implantation rates of patients with repeated implantation failure.
B
B
Ma
Y
Y
Wang
H
H
Zhang
X
X
Zhang
D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008846:Micromanipulation; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000528:radiation effects*