Gamete Infrafallopian Transfer (GIFT) is the transfer (transmission) of male and female gametes/sex cells (spermatozoa/semen cells, oocyte/ovum) into the fallopian tubes (tubules).
This reproductive procedure requires follicle maturation therapy (egg maturation therapy; hormone therapy: see .below “Primary female infertility/medical therapy“) and follicle puncture (egg puncture) under vaginal sonography.
For vaginal sonography, see “Vaginal ultrasound (vaginal sonography) in infertility therapy” below.
A prerequisite for intratubal gamete transfer is that at least one fallopian tube (tubule) is patent.
Indications (areas of application)
- Some forms of male fertility disorders – not treatable with other therapies including intrauterine insemination (IUI).
- Idiopathic infertility (patients with fertility impairments of unknown cause).
- Ethical reasons: Patients prefer venom to IVF because fertilization occurs naturally in the body.
Before treatment
An intratubal gamete transfer must be preceded by an examination of the man by physicians with the additional designation “andrology“. This includes a self, family, and couple history, including a sexual history, a physical examination, and an ejaculate analysis (including a spermiogram). If indicated, this is supplemented by scrotal sonography (testicular ultrasound) and, if necessary, hormone diagnostics and cyto- or molecular genetic diagnostics. If sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and other urogenital infections are present that could endanger the woman or child, these must be treated [Guidelines: Diagnosis and therapy before assisted reproductive medicine treatment (ART)].
The procedure
After follicle maturation therapy and follicle puncture under vaginal sonography, oocytes (eggs) and previously prepared sperm (sperm preparation) are then introduced into the fallopian tubes (tubules).
Nowadays, ready-to-use media for sperm washing and sperm separation by the swim-up method are used for sperm preparation. In this method, the ejaculate is coated with the sperm preparation and medium so that the freely moving spermatozoa can swim up over cell fragments and avital spermatozoa (dead spermatozoa). The swim-up method requires approximately 30 to 60 minutes of incubation (“incubation”).
Intratubal gamete transfer is a semi-invasive procedure because it requires laparoscopy (laparoscopy of the abdomen).
Notice: A maximum of 3 eggs are transferred into each fallopian tube.
With advances in in vitro fertilization (IVF), the GIFT procedure is being used less because pregnancy rates tend to be equal or better with IVF and no laparoscopy is required when the oocyte is transferred (egg transferred).
Please note.
The physical and mental health of the man and woman, as well as a healthy lifestyle, are important prerequisites for successful fertility treatment.
Before starting therapeutic measures, you should in any case – as far as possible – reduce your individual risk factors!
Therefore, before starting any reproductive medical measure (e.g. IUI, IVF, etc.), have a health check and a nutritional analysis performed to optimize your personal fertility (fertility).
