Gamete intrafallopian transfer
Encyclopedia
Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) is a tool of assisted reproductive technology
against infertility
. Eggs are removed from a woman's ovaries, and placed in one of the Fallopian tube
s, along with the man's sperm. The technique, which was pioneered by endocrinologist Ricardo Asch
, allows fertilization to take place inside the woman's uterus.
With the advances in IVF the GIFT procedure is used less as pregnancy rates in IVF tend to be equal or better and do not require laparoscopy
when the egg is put back.
. The doctor will monitor the growth of the ovarian follicles, and once they are mature, the woman will be injected with Human chorionic gonadotropin
(hCG). The eggs will be harvested approximately 36 hours later, mixed with the man's sperm, and placed back into the woman's Fallopian tubes using a laparoscope.
.
The First GIFT baby in the UK was Todd Holden born on the 23rd October 1986 in the Peterborough District Hospital.(WOW) The First GIFT baby in the US was Kaitlynne Kelley born on the 28th of April in 1987.The first application of this method in Latin America was held in Argentina on May 13, 1986, and was led by Dr. Ricardo Asch, the treatment was successfully completed with the birth of Manuel Campo Lopez.
In Venezuela, the first GIFT babies were Luis Hernández, Rosa Helena Hernández and Luisa Hernández, who were born on June 24, 1987 and were also the first triplets to be born using the GIFT method.
Assisted reproductive technology
Assisted reproductive technology is a general term referring to methods used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means. It is reproductive technology used primarily in infertility treatments. Some forms of ART are also used in fertile couples for genetic reasons...
against infertility
Infertility
Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term...
. Eggs are removed from a woman's ovaries, and placed in one of the Fallopian tube
Fallopian tube
The Fallopian tubes, also known as oviducts, uterine tubes, and salpinges are two very fine tubes lined with ciliated epithelia, leading from the ovaries of female mammals into the uterus, via the utero-tubal junction...
s, along with the man's sperm. The technique, which was pioneered by endocrinologist Ricardo Asch
Ricardo Asch
Ricardo Hector Asch is an obstetrician, gynecologist, and endocrinologist who was notable for his work in reproductive technology, in particular gamete intrafallopian transfer...
, allows fertilization to take place inside the woman's uterus.
With the advances in IVF the GIFT procedure is used less as pregnancy rates in IVF tend to be equal or better and do not require laparoscopy
Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy is an operation performed in the abdomen or pelvis through small incisions with the aid of a camera...
when the egg is put back.
Method
It takes, on average, four to six weeks to complete a cycle of GIFT. First, the woman must take a fertility drug to stimulate egg production in the ovariesOvary
The ovary is an ovum-producing reproductive organ, often found in pairs as part of the vertebrate female reproductive system. Ovaries in anatomically female individuals are analogous to testes in anatomically male individuals, in that they are both gonads and endocrine glands.-Human anatomy:Ovaries...
. The doctor will monitor the growth of the ovarian follicles, and once they are mature, the woman will be injected with Human chorionic gonadotropin
Human chorionic gonadotropin
Human chorionic gonadotropin or human chorionic gonadotrophin is a glycoprotein hormone produced during pregnancy that is made by the developing embryo after conception and later by the syncytiotrophoblast .. Some tumors make this hormone; measured elevated levels when the patient is not...
(hCG). The eggs will be harvested approximately 36 hours later, mixed with the man's sperm, and placed back into the woman's Fallopian tubes using a laparoscope.
Indications
A woman must have at least one normal fallopian tube in order for GIFT to be suitable. It is used in instances where the fertility problem relates to sperm dysfunction, and where the couple has idiopathic (unknown cause) infertility. Some patients may prefer the procedure to IVF for ethical reasons, since the fertilization takes place inside the body. This is a semi invasive procedure and requires laparoscopy .Success rate
As with most fertility procedures, success depends on the couple's age and the woman's egg quality. It is estimated that approximately 25-30% of GIFT cycles result in pregnancy http://www.child.org.uk/html/malta.php/factsheets/79/, with a third of those being multiple pregnanciesMultiple birth
A multiple birth occurs when more than one fetus is carried to term in a single pregnancy. Different names for multiple births are used, depending on the number of offspring. Common multiples are two and three, known as twins and triplets...
.
The First GIFT baby in the UK was Todd Holden born on the 23rd October 1986 in the Peterborough District Hospital.(WOW) The First GIFT baby in the US was Kaitlynne Kelley born on the 28th of April in 1987.The first application of this method in Latin America was held in Argentina on May 13, 1986, and was led by Dr. Ricardo Asch, the treatment was successfully completed with the birth of Manuel Campo Lopez.
In Venezuela, the first GIFT babies were Luis Hernández, Rosa Helena Hernández and Luisa Hernández, who were born on June 24, 1987 and were also the first triplets to be born using the GIFT method.
Bioethical issues
Gamete intrafallopian transfer is not technically in vitro fertilisation because with GIFT, fertilisation takes place inside the body, not on a petri dish. The Catholic Church nevertheless is concerned with it because "some theologians consider this to be a replacement of the marital act, and therefore immoral."See also
- Zygote intrafallopian transferZygote intrafallopian transferZygote intrafallopian transfer is an infertility treatment where a blockage in the fallopian tubes prevents the normal binding of sperm to the egg. Egg cells are removed from a woman's ovaries, and in vitro fertilised. The resulting zygote is placed into the fallopian tube by the use of laparoscopy...