Gamete intrafallopian transfer, or GIFT, is an assisted reproductive technology (ART) similar to in vitro fertilization. The main difference is that fertilization occurs inside the woman’s body, rather than in a laboratory environment. GIFT is also generally more expensive than IVF, costing around $15,000 - $20,000.
Gift is one of the less common methods of ART, used in only about 2% of all cases. It is generally used when a couple has religious or moral objections to fertilization occurring outside of the body. It may also be used in cases where the woman has ovulatory disorders or cervical problems.
In order to be a candidate for GIFT, a woman must have at least one functioning fallopian tube, as fertilization occurs within the fallopian tube.
The procedure for GIFT is virtually identical to that used in IVF. The difference comes in where the egg is fertilized and implanted. In IVF, the egg is fertilized in a controlled laboratory environment. In GIFT, the egg(s) and sperm are placed in the fallopian tube using a surgical procedure called “Laparascopy”. Fertilization occurs in the fallopian tube.
Laparoscopy is a minor surgical procedure where a lighted viewing instrument is inserted into the lower abdomen through a small incision. The abdomen is inflated with gas, which pushed the wall of the abdomen away from the organs so that the doctor can see them more clearly. It leaves a very small scar, and is much less risky than traditional surgery. The recovery time is also very short, and a patient will generally be fully recovered in less than a week.
One disadvantage of GIFT, is that if the procedure fails, the doctor is unable to learn about the sperm’s ability to fertilize the eggs, as fertilization occurs inside the body. Also, the embryos cannot be assessed as they can with IVF. There is also a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo implants itself somewhere other than the uterine lining.
A similar procedure exists which combines GIFT and IVF. It is called zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT). The procedure is the same as for GIFT, with the difference being that the eggs are fertilized in a controlled laboratory environment and then inserted into the fallopian tubes.
There are no reasonable estimates of success rates available, as the procedure is rarely used. Still, gamete intrafallopian transfer can be a viable option for infertile couples.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Fertility Drugs: A Closer Look
Couples that have been trying to conceive for 12 months unsuccessfully while not using contraceptives are considered to be infertile. There are a wide variety of drugs available to help a couple conceive a child, and in this article we’ll take a look at two of the most commonly used ones.
Fertility drugs are the primary treatment for women with ovulation disorders. Some are taken orally, and some must be injected. They cause the release of hormones that trigger and regulate ovulation. They are also used with assisted reproductive techniques, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT).
Clomiphene Citrate is one of the most commonly used fertility drugs. It is also known by the brand names Clomid, Milophene and Serophene. It is taken orally for 5 consecutive days early in the menstrual cycle. Most women will take it for 3 to 6 months. It has not proven to be effective past the six month point. Clomiphene works by stimulating the release of hormones needed to cause ovulation. The side effects of Clomiphene include ovarian hyper stimulation, hot flashes, irritability, nausea, abdominal pain, headaches, thick cervical mucus, breast tenderness, blurred vision and hair loss. There is also a 5-8% chance of a multiple pregnancy when taking Clomiphene.
Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (hMG) is another common fertility drug. It contains luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone, both of which are needed to help trigger ovulation. These hormones are found in the urine of postmenopausal women. hMG is taken as an injection for 7-12 days, at which point a shot of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is given to tell the ovaries to release mature eggs. It is taken for up to 6 months and is administered through injection. Side effects of hMG are an increased chance of miscarriage, ovarian enlargement, ovarian hyper stimulation, headache and abdominal pain. As with clomiphene, there is also an increased chance of multiple pregnancy.
The same drugs that are used to treat infertility in women can also be used to treat infertility in men. They do not perform as well and are only about one third as effective. Also, they have not been approved by the FDA for use in men, but a specialist can prescribe them. It is worth noting that these drugs only help men with certain hormonal imbalances, such as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The drugs stimulate the same hormones in men as in women, which help men to produce more sperm.
While these drugs may not work for every couple that is trying to conceive, they are a good choice as a first treatment as they are cheaper and less invasive than other alternatives. As with any drug, you should ensure that you understand the uses, risks and side effects before taking them. Always consult your doctor before taking medication of any kind.
Fertility drugs are the primary treatment for women with ovulation disorders. Some are taken orally, and some must be injected. They cause the release of hormones that trigger and regulate ovulation. They are also used with assisted reproductive techniques, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT).
Clomiphene Citrate is one of the most commonly used fertility drugs. It is also known by the brand names Clomid, Milophene and Serophene. It is taken orally for 5 consecutive days early in the menstrual cycle. Most women will take it for 3 to 6 months. It has not proven to be effective past the six month point. Clomiphene works by stimulating the release of hormones needed to cause ovulation. The side effects of Clomiphene include ovarian hyper stimulation, hot flashes, irritability, nausea, abdominal pain, headaches, thick cervical mucus, breast tenderness, blurred vision and hair loss. There is also a 5-8% chance of a multiple pregnancy when taking Clomiphene.
Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (hMG) is another common fertility drug. It contains luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone, both of which are needed to help trigger ovulation. These hormones are found in the urine of postmenopausal women. hMG is taken as an injection for 7-12 days, at which point a shot of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is given to tell the ovaries to release mature eggs. It is taken for up to 6 months and is administered through injection. Side effects of hMG are an increased chance of miscarriage, ovarian enlargement, ovarian hyper stimulation, headache and abdominal pain. As with clomiphene, there is also an increased chance of multiple pregnancy.
The same drugs that are used to treat infertility in women can also be used to treat infertility in men. They do not perform as well and are only about one third as effective. Also, they have not been approved by the FDA for use in men, but a specialist can prescribe them. It is worth noting that these drugs only help men with certain hormonal imbalances, such as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The drugs stimulate the same hormones in men as in women, which help men to produce more sperm.
While these drugs may not work for every couple that is trying to conceive, they are a good choice as a first treatment as they are cheaper and less invasive than other alternatives. As with any drug, you should ensure that you understand the uses, risks and side effects before taking them. Always consult your doctor before taking medication of any kind.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Louise Brown, World’s First Test Tube Baby
July 25th, 1978 was a historic day, and one that would change the lives of millions of infertile couples the world over. For John and Lesley Brown, it was one of the happiest days of their lives. It was the day that their first daughter, Louise Joy Brown, was born.
John and Lesley had been trying to conceive unsuccessfully for nine years because of Lesley’s blocked fallopian tubes. That all changed nine months earlier when Lesley Brown underwent the first successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure in history.
Drs. Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards had been looking for a solution to help couples with blocked fallopian tubes to conceive a baby since 1966. Up until Louise, they had been successful in fertilizing an egg outside of a woman’s body, but had been unable to implant the resulting embryo with any success. By 1977, none of the pregnancies resulting from this new procedure had lasted more than a few weeks.
Before Louise, the doctors had waited 4 to 5 days before replacing the fertilized embryo into the mother’s body. With Louise, they decided to wait only 2 and a half days. The pregnancy continued without incident until Louise was delivered by Caesarian section nine months later, a healthy, normal baby. Since then it is estimated that over 1,000,000 babies have been conceived through IVF.
Predictably, the birth sparked a flurry of ethical debates on the morality of the practice.
Fueled by B-grade science fiction films, people worried about soulless clones and taking the place of God. A quote from an article on the birth from the Milwaukee Journal of Aug 3, 1978, states: “Religious leaders are asking, is man treading recklessly into the realm of God’s works – or happily fulfilling a divine commandment?”
Much like the first heart and kidney transplants, the birth of Louise Brown forced the world to face issues that it had not considered before outside of the realm of science fiction. Today, IVF is considered a normal, common place and even uninteresting practice, as the world has answered these questions and moved on to other issues.
Contrast that with Louise herself, who has been faced with constant press coverage her entire life. She is proud to have been the first “test-tube baby”, but is uncomfortable with all the attention.
Recently, Louise gave birth to a child of her own. The baby, a boy, was conceived naturally and was born just before Christmas of 2006. Louise’s sister, Natalie, also conceived by IVF, was the first “test-tube baby” to have a child of her own in 1999.
Louise Brown remains a symbol of hope for millions of infertile couples the world over, and an example of what man can achieve when put to the test.
John and Lesley had been trying to conceive unsuccessfully for nine years because of Lesley’s blocked fallopian tubes. That all changed nine months earlier when Lesley Brown underwent the first successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure in history.
Drs. Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards had been looking for a solution to help couples with blocked fallopian tubes to conceive a baby since 1966. Up until Louise, they had been successful in fertilizing an egg outside of a woman’s body, but had been unable to implant the resulting embryo with any success. By 1977, none of the pregnancies resulting from this new procedure had lasted more than a few weeks.
Before Louise, the doctors had waited 4 to 5 days before replacing the fertilized embryo into the mother’s body. With Louise, they decided to wait only 2 and a half days. The pregnancy continued without incident until Louise was delivered by Caesarian section nine months later, a healthy, normal baby. Since then it is estimated that over 1,000,000 babies have been conceived through IVF.
Predictably, the birth sparked a flurry of ethical debates on the morality of the practice.
Fueled by B-grade science fiction films, people worried about soulless clones and taking the place of God. A quote from an article on the birth from the Milwaukee Journal of Aug 3, 1978, states: “Religious leaders are asking, is man treading recklessly into the realm of God’s works – or happily fulfilling a divine commandment?”
Much like the first heart and kidney transplants, the birth of Louise Brown forced the world to face issues that it had not considered before outside of the realm of science fiction. Today, IVF is considered a normal, common place and even uninteresting practice, as the world has answered these questions and moved on to other issues.
Contrast that with Louise herself, who has been faced with constant press coverage her entire life. She is proud to have been the first “test-tube baby”, but is uncomfortable with all the attention.
Recently, Louise gave birth to a child of her own. The baby, a boy, was conceived naturally and was born just before Christmas of 2006. Louise’s sister, Natalie, also conceived by IVF, was the first “test-tube baby” to have a child of her own in 1999.
Louise Brown remains a symbol of hope for millions of infertile couples the world over, and an example of what man can achieve when put to the test.
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