Assisted hatching does not enhance IVF success in good-prognosis patients.

PurposeThe role of assisted hatching in good-prognosis IVF patients was evaluated in a prospective, randomized, controlled pilot study, which was followed by a retrospective observational series.MethodsAfter assisted hatching was proved successful in a mouse embryo study, 20 good-prognosis IVF patients were randomly assigned to either assisted hatching (13) or no assisted hatching (7; the controls). Following this series, 27 good-prognosis IVF patients were retrospectively evaluated to determine the outcome with assisted hatching.ResultsIn the prospective study, clinical pregnancies resulted from 3 (23%) of 13 patients in the hatching group, compared to 3 (43%) of 7 in the control group. Implantation rates were similar: 9.6% in the hatching group and 10.7% in the controls. In the retrospective series, the 11.1% implantation rate with assisted hatching was significantly less than the 42.9% implantation rate seen with traditional IVF.ConclusionsImplantation and pregnancy rates are high in young women undergoing traditional IVF. Assisted hatching is not beneficial in these patients.