Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)

GIFT or gamete intrafallopian transfer is a treatment for infertility that is similar to in vitro fertilization or IVF. In this treatment woman's ovaries are stimulated to produce multiple eggs using fertility drugs. Doctors then collect the woman's eggs once they have matured.

Using GIFT, doctors will also collect male sperm either from the woman's partner or from donated sperm. The eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory and then transferred to a woman's fallopian tubes. Fertilization then occurs inside of the woman. The main difference between this treatment and IVF is in IVF the eggs are fertilized outside of a woman's body or in the laboratory and then directly placed inside a woman's uterus.

This procedure is sometimes preferred by women who might prefer the egg has a chance to begin development in as natural a setting as possible. While this procedures is not available for women who have fallopian blockages, it is available for other women experiencing infertility.

A procedures similar to this referred to as Zygote intrafallopian transfer occurs when a zygote rather than an embryo is transferred to a woman's fallopian tubes. This procedure is also considered more natural by some women than IVF therapy as it provides the embryo that may result with as natural an environment as possible in which to grow and develop.

How Does GIFT Work and What Are The Advantages?

Many feel GIFT is of benefits because it takes advantage of the natural environment the body provides to help incubate and fertilize eggs. The procedure isn't much different at all from in vitro with the exception that the egg and sperm generally aren't fertilized until they are relocated to the woman's body.

In this procedure like in other fertility treatments, women are generally given prescription drugs to help encourage the ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs. This will increase the chances that conception will occur in one or more of the eggs. Usually the egg and sperm is combined and then immediately placed into a woman's fallopian tubes using a small incision or catheter. Treatment generally lasts between four and six weeks, depending on the length of time it takes a woman's eggs to mature and develop.

Transfer of the egg to the fallopian tube generally occurs on the same day. The success rates of this procedure generally vary from person to person. The chances of success are thought to be the same as the success rate with IVF. For this reason many couples opt for IVF rather than GIFT or the similar procedure, ZIFT. This procedure is sometimes preferred by women for personal reasons or a couples desire to provide the embryo with as natural an environment to thrive as early as possible.

There are some disadvantages to this procedure. If pregnancy for example does not result, doctors aren't certain what the cause is, whether fertilization occurred or not or whether implantation failed. Some couples prefer IVF therapy to this because they are certain at least that fertilization occurs before the eggs are transferred to the woman's body.

As with IVF, women undergoing this procedure are more at risk for developing multiple pregnancies as doctors often implant multiple eggs into the fallopian tubes. While some couples gladly accept this risk, there is an increased likelihood that pregnancy complications including an increased risk for miscarriage or preterm labor may result from multiple pregnancies. Most women will be closely monitored for the duration of their pregnancy is they conceive using GIFT or similar procedures.