Laser-assisted hatching is a scientific IVF technique that can facilitate the embryo to “hatch” or break through its outer layer or “shell” (a membrane also known as the zona pellucida) by creating an opening. In some situations, this layer is unusually thick and / or hardened, partly due to the freezing and thawing process. The less difficult the embryo is to hatch, the more likely it is to attach to or snuggle up to the uterine wall.