PollenTree

Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)

With this procedure fertilisation occurs inside the woman’s body rather than outside in a laboratory.

It is still necessary to use fertility drugs to stimulate ovulation so that mature eggs can be collected.

The eggs are then injected with sperm inside a catheter (this all takes place in a laboratory) and then the eggs and sperm are transferred immediately into the woman’s fallopian tubes using laparoscopy so that fertilisation can take place in the woman’s body and the eggs can travel to the uterus for implantation to allow the embryo to develop.

This procedure is not suitable for women who have blocked fallopian tubes.

It can however be used in conjunction with egg donation.

Whilst it is regarded as more natural than IVF because fertilisation takes place in the woman’s body it does involve surgical procedure and so can be more invasive that IVF.

Of all the different types of fertility treatments this is the one that is most acceptable to religious groups because it involves minimum interference with the process of fertilisation.