Assisted Hatching with a FET

mdluv21

I just got off the phone with the financial coordinator to find out the final amount I owe on my upcoming FET.  The total was lower than I expected (which never happens) and it turns out it is because I am not having assisted hatching done, which I assumed was always done with FET.

My embie is a day 6 expanding blast - Is it because it is already expanding that I don't need to do AH?  I just want to make sure that is not an error that I am not having done, at this point, I would rather pay for it if it gives us a better chance.

BeeBee08

I think you're right, esentially it has hatched so no assistance necessary.  This is my understanding and I have the disclaimer that I'm no expert!

Good Luck and yay for being less than you thought!

theworms

honestly, not an expert on AH but to my knowledge it's not done with FET's (and for some reason i think it's only done on day 3 (could be wrong about this).

I've done 2 FET's both times with expanded blasts and after they were thawed they started growing so I think you are good cutie

cookie_queen

I think assisted hatching isn't being done for the reason you stated, it's already there basically. I haven't had AH done on any of my cycles, fresh or frozen and was under the impression that it was because they were expanded blasts.

theworms

some info i found, it is used in FET's but much more common with fresh cycles.

https://www.advancedfertility.com/hatching.htm

and some more info

 

What is Assisted Zona hatching (AZH) and when is it indicated?

Assisted zona hatching (AZH) is a technique used to, potentially, improve implantation rates. Once an egg has been fertilized (by either conventional IVF or ICSI), the embryo is then assessed to determine its quality. Part of this assessment is measurement of the shell thickness (zona pellucida) around the embryo. If the zona pellucida is thicker than normal, this is an indication for assisted hatching.

At the Center for Reproductive Health, using micromanipulation techniques, we use a small amount of acid to create a small defect (hole) in the zona pellucida itself. In theory, this small hole in the shell of the embryo allows the embryo reaching the blastocyst stage to, break out of it's shell easier to allow for better implantation rates.

Some embryos may have a normal or thin zona pellucida that is extremely tough or hard to hatch. One cannot determine how hard the zona is until the assisted hatching procedure is actually performed.  Indications for assisted hatching include:

>>	Thick zona pellucida measured via IVF
>>	An elevated FSH level
>> >>	Age greater than 38 years Previously failed IVF embryo transfers without assisted hatching

Occasionally embryo quality can be improved by removing fragmented debris through the hole created by the assisted hatching procedure. We have had very good success rates when assisted hatching is used.

 

cutebride73

Yes, that is why.  At least from what I was told.  My RE always said that if I had a 3dt they would do AH, but for a 5dt they wouldn't because a blast is usually already starting to hatch. 

I am so glad to hear that things cost less than you thought - that is great news!!!

KaliChick

**ticker warning**

We did not do a FET, but on my first cycle we did a 5dt and did not do AH.  I asked my RE why not and he said it's basically not done on day 5 ... the zona is so thin anyway that AH really isn't beneficial.  We did do it on my second (successful) cycle when we transferred on day 3. 

I would think your reasoning is dead on ... there's no reason to do it when it's already expanding!