Couples or individuals in the New York, New York area and other parts of the country will likely attest to the frustration that infertility may bring. It may cause stress and may be a major burden on the individual or couple when they are attempting to become pregnant. Thankfully, however, through various advancements in medicine and reproductive science many have successfully overcome infertility and conceived. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have helped couples around the world overcome infertility. The most famous of these is perhaps in vitro fertilization (IVF), but there are other types as well that have helped many couples and individuals, too.
One such treatment is called gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). This form of ART was first introduced in the mid-eighties and involves fertilization that takes place inside the fallopian tubes as opposed to in a laboratory like is the case in IVF or zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT). ZIFT is similar to GIFT in that transfer to the fallopian tubes is used, but ZIFT involves fertilization in a laboratory and subsequent transfer of the embryos to the fallopian tubes. With GIFT, the unfertilized eggs and sperm are transferred to the fallopian tubes where fertilization may take place.
Women may be given fertilization hormones to stimulate the production of multiple eggs during one cycle. About two or three eggs are removed from the ovaries and placed in a catheter with the sperm. The exact number of eggs used may be determined based on the age of the woman. The eggs and sperm are then placed in the fallopian tubes through a procedure called laparoscopy. This requires a general anesthetic and a small incision that is made in the abdomen.
The success rate for GIFT may depend on various factors such as the age of the woman and the cause of infertility, but for the most part, success rates tend to hover around 45% for women under 35 or 18% for women 41-years-old or older. They may be somewhere in between for women 35 to 40. Before receiving treatment, interested individuals or couples should speak with a fertility specialist in the New York area to help determine the possible success rate for their case, although this may be difficult to calculate. Candidates for this procedure include women with at least one healthy fallopian tube. It may be used by women with unexplained causes of infertility. Those who have tubal damage or blockage are not candidates for treatment and should speak with their fertility specialist about other forms of ART such as IVF.
As with any medical procedure, there are certain risks involved with the treatment. During the laparoscopy procedure, there is a risk of pelvic infection or puncture of nearby organs due to the use of incisions. There may also be a risk of multiple births as with other types of ART. One of the disadvantages of GIFT compared to IVF is the quality of the embryo and whether or not fertilization occurs is not able to be confirmed. About 12 days after surgery, the physician may determine if the procedure was successful.
The cost of the procedure is higher than that of IVF in many cases. Costs may range from $12,000 to $15,000 per session, although this may vary depending on the clinic chosen and other factors.
Learn more about gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) in New York, New York.
