Assisted Hatching (AH):

The process of thinning or breaching a small section of the zona pellucida to aid the embryo in the natural hatching process that occurs when the blastocyst (day 5 or day 6 embryo) implants in the lining of the uterus.  Our lab uses a mild acid solution to digest a portion of the zona.  Other methods of assisted hatching are to physically slice a hole in the zona or to use a laser to vaporize the zona.

Embryo Cryopreservation:

Individual embryos (fertilized eggs) are frozen in labeled straws using a controlled rate liquid nitrogen freezer that minimizes the fromation of ice crystals.  Embryos can be stored indefinitely in liquid nitrogen for future embryo transfers.  The thaw survival is largely dependent on the quality of the embryo that is frozen.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI):

The insertion of a single sperm directly into the cytoplasm of a mature oocyte (egg) using a glass microinjection needle.  ICSI can help treat male factor infertility, especially when there are low numbers of sperm or if the sperm have problems binding to or penetrating the egg.  ICSI is used for surgically extracted sperm (MESA or TESE).

Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis/Screening (PGD/PGS):

Couples at risk for chromosomal abnormalities (such as Down's Syndrome) or genetic diseases (such as cystic fibrosis) may use PGD to screen their newly created embryos.  PGD is a highly sophisticated procedure that involves removing one or two cells from the embryo (usually done three days after fertilization once the embryo has eight cells) and subjecting it to genetic testing.  PGD results are obtained very rapidly (usually within 24 hours) and then a decision is made if the embryo is to be transferred.  The goal of PGD is to transfer a healthy embryo which will lead to a healthy pregnancy.

Sperm Cryopreservation:

Sperm can be frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen indefinitely.  Approximately 50% of the sperm will survive the freezing and thawing process and can be used for ART treatment.  Sperm banking is beneficial to males about to undergo treatment for cancer, vasectomy, or in situtations where the male partner will not be available to collect a fresh semen sample when the female partner ovulates.

Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE):

A testicular biopsy is performed under general anesthesia and the testicular tissue is minced up and examined for the presence of sperm.  TESE sperm are usually not as mature as ejaculated sperm, have poor motility, and are found in small numbers.  TESE derived sperm is only suitable for ICSI.  In our lab, the TESE procedure is performed well in advance of the IVF cycle and the recovered sperm are cryopreserved for future use.