What does assisted hatching mean? The embryo is surrounded by a zona pellucida, which must be “broken” in order for the embryo to implant in the uterine cavity. Assisted hatching is the use of physical or chemical methods to make an opening in the zona pellucida or to make it thinner so that the embryo can “break out” of the zona pellucida to help it implant. Just like hatching chicks, what are the risks of assisted hatching? Assisted hatching has the potential to damage the embryo, increase the risk of monozygotic twins, and even create conjoined twins, so it should be chosen with great care. A common method used in embryology laboratories is laser perforation, like drilling holes in an eggshell What kind of people need assisted hatching? The indications for assisted hatching at our center are: elderly patients (over 40 years old), thickening of the zona pellucida, and patients who have not had several embryo transfers (more than 3). If you fall into one of these categories, then you should consider whether or not to undergo assisted hatching; other patients do not need it.