Just wondering the doctor's thoughts on having requested AH, having had paid for AH and only to find out the embryologist did not do the AH in the last minute because the embryos "looked good". I had 3 out of 10 embryos transfered. I am confused. Being 40 years old, I felt (along with my Dr.) that the AH procedure would be benificial. I felt very strongly to have it done as to do all that I could to result in a pregnancy. I was never told of the "last minute" change of plans. Should this procedure have been done based on my age and request? I didn't think the quality of the egg/embryo is considered in cases where the woman is over 38? From what I have researched, AH is practically standard in older women. Thanks for your input. I am trying to stay hopeful!!!!!
You are correct that it is considered standard practice in most IVF programs to perform Assisted Hatching (AH) on embryos from women over 38. I'm very surprised at the "looked good" justification you were given as the "toughness" of the protein coat surrounding the embryo cannot be assessed but just looking. However, take heart. AH augments the hatching process, but is not absolutely essential for successful implantation. Nature has been taking care of the hatching process long before embryologists came on the scene. Should the transferred embryos reach the blastocyst stage, they will expand and stretch the protein coat. Meanwhile, protein-disolving enzymes present in the uterine fluid will assist in thinning the protein coat. The end result will be a "hatched" embryo.
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