The embryo, in its early stages of development, is surrounded by a thin shell called the zona pellucida. The process in which the embryo leaves this shell and implants itself into the lining of the uterus approximately 5 to 6 days after fertilization is called “hatching”. Assisted hatching is a procedure designed to help embryos leave the egg shell and implant more easily into the lining of the uterus. On the day of the embryo transfer, the egg shell is opened under a microscope with a fine laser beam to make it easier for the embryos to hatch. It is assumed that this procedure will not have any adverse effects on the embryo or its genetic material.