The Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer procedure (women)

There are a series of stages to this procedure:

• Eggs are harvested from the woman: this usually occurs once fertility drugs have been administered as these can help to stimulate egg production.

  This is known as ovulation stimulation.

• The eggs are constantly monitored via ultrasound scans, blood and urine tests.
• The woman is given an injection of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (HCG). This is a hormone which helps to increase the number of eggs released at ovulation.
• The idea behind this is to have an increased number of eggs in the ovaries and to prevent re-absorption. If donor eggs are to be used then ovulation stimulation will not take place.
• The next stage is follicular aspiration. This is the name given to the procedure in which eggs are extracted from inside the follicles.

  You are given either a local or general anaesthetic. The specialist will insert a fine needle into your vagina and will use ultrasound to guide the needle to your ovaries. The ovaries are ‘punctured’ by this needle and the eggs extracted.

• The final stage is that of transferring the eggs to the fallopian tube for fertilisation. This is done using laparoscopy.

  To start with the harvested eggs are examined and the best chosen for this process. The next step is to transfer them to your fallopian tube.

  You will be given a general anaesthetic. Your chosen eggs along with a sample of your partner’s sperm are placed in a thin catheter (ultra thin tube) which is guided to your fallopian tube via laparoscopy.

  The catheter is inserted into the outer ends of one or both of your fallopian tubes. An egg and sperm – known as ‘gametes’ are flushed into your tubes for fertilisation to take place.

  The remaining eggs are inseminated and cultured in the same way as for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). Embryos produced from this are frozen for future use.

• The day after you will be given a progesterone supplement – orally or via an injection which helps to increase the thickness of the lining in your womb. This will help to stimulate pregnancy. This supplement is taken on a daily basis until you become pregnant.

  As soon as this happens you will continue with this supplement to support the placement of the embryo and pregnancy in general.

All being well you will become pregnant which is exactly what you have been hoping for.

Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer Treatment Guide Index:

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• Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer (GIFT) - Intro
• Is GIFT the same as In-vitro fertilisation (IVF)?
• GIFT success rates
• GIFT with donor eggs

• The GIFT procedure (women)
• The GIFT procedure (men)
• Side effects of GIFT

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