Gamete intra-Fallopian transfer: evaluation of 100 consecutive attempts.

The results of 100 gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) procedures to treat persistent infertility are reported. Twenty-four pregnancies were achieved, of these six aborted, two were extra-uterine, two stillbirths occurred and nine patients delivered 11 healthy children (two sets of twins) and five pregnancies are progressing well, including two sets of twins. Pregnancy rate in the different groups of patients was: 28% for idiopathic infertility (n = 39), 13% for male infertility (n = 16), 22% for endometriosis (n = 27), and 29% in the presence of antisperm antibodies (n = 7). In our GIFT procedure, we place three oocytes and 50,000 to 100,000 motile spermatozoa per patient into one healthy tube, the remaining oocytes being inseminated and cultured in vitro. Of 502 oocytes recovered, 252 fertilized normally and 178 early embryos were frozen. The replacement of 41 frozen-thawed embryos resulted in five additional, ongoing pregnancies. The combined treatment by gamete intra-Fallopian transfer, in-vitro fertilization and cryopreservation increases the chance of conception.