The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of laser assisted hatching (LAH) in human embryos. Embryos were assigned to one of two groups: LAH group (n=24) or control group (n=19). In the LAH group, zona opening was performed at the day 3 embryo with the use of a 1.48-μm infrared diode laser (OCTAX Laser Shot^™ system, MTG Medical Technology, Altdorf, Germany). Following the LAH, embryos were cultured up to the hatching blastocyst stage to determine whether the LAH resulted in damage to subsequent development. The LAH was performed on 14 patients who experienced IVF/ICSI failures in two or more cycles in our clinic. Respective blastocyst development rates in the LAH and the control group were 37.5% (9/24) and 42.1% (8/19). There was no significant difference between the two groups. As rates of blastocyst hatching were 88.9% (8/9) and 12.5% (1/8), respectively, the LAH group showed a significant increase as compared to the control group (P<0.01). To date, five pregnancies have occurred following the transfer of zona opening day 3 embryos. LAH of human embryos does not have an adverse effect on subsequent development and increases the rate of blastocyst hatching.