Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer

Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT) is an assisted reproductive technology that can help couples who are unable to conceive due to infertility disorders have a child.

In GIFT (Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer), the egg collected from the donor or the woman herself is combined with sperm and is placed into the fallopian tube of the recipient or herself. This procedure is used when a female is unable to produce an egg, but can provide a suitable environment for fertilization, or in cases of sperm dysfunction.

GIFT Method

Steptoe and Edwards were the first to perform the procedure, and Ricardo Asch later pioneered the GIFT technique. In GIFT, the ovum is kept in the fallopian tube alongside the sperm, allowing for fertilisation to take place within the body. The entire process of GIFT usually takes four to six weeks.

First, fertility drugs are administered to induce ovulation.

The development of ovarian follicles is monitored, and upon maturation, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is administered.

The egg is harvested, mixed with sperms, and then placed back into the female’s fallopian tube via laparoscopy.

Fertilization occurs within the fallopian tube.

Some of the important points regarding GIFT are as follows:

One of the two fallopian tubes must be functional for this procedure.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is commonly used when a woman is unable to produce an egg, but is still able to carry a pregnancy. It is also used to treat mild male infertility.

It is not in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) because fertilisation occurs naturally within the fallopian tube.

It requires laparoscopy to put the egg back, making it a semi-invasive procedure.

The success rate ranges from 25-30%, and is dependent on the age of the couple as well as the quality of the ovum and sperms.

With the emergence of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), GIFT has become less popular as IVF has a high success rate and does not require laparoscopy. Other assisted reproductive techniques include ZIFT (zygote intrafallopian transfer), embryo transfer (ET), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and intrauterine insemination (IUI).

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