Using a Surrogate
Surrogacy is another potential option. Sometimes, a woman’s uterus is unable to carry a pregnancy (or the uterus has been removed because of cancer or some other medical problem), but she may still have her ovaries. In this case, the couple can use the woman’s eggs, the man’s sperm, and have the resulting embryos transferred into the surrogate’s uterus. Sometimes, the surrogate mother’s own eggs are used. In this case, IUI may be used to transfer the man’s sperm to the surrogate’s uterus.GIFT
GIFT stands for gamete intrafallopian transfer. With GIFT, instead of having the egg and sperm fertilized in the lab, and the resulting embryo transferred to the woman’s uterus, the egg and sperm are transferred into the woman’s fallopian tubes. Fertilization then takes place inside the woman’s body. GIFT is more invasive than regular IVF, as it requires laparoscopic surgery to transfer the egg and sperm into the fallopian tubes. GIFT may be used if a couple has religious objections to having fertilization take place outside the body. It’s rarely used, with only 1% of all assisted reproductive procedures involving GIFT.
ZIFT
ZIFT stands for zygote intrafallopian transfer. With ZIFT, fertilization takes place in the lab, but the fertilized egg (or zygote) is transferred to the fallopian tube, instead of the uterus. It also requires laparoscopic surgery, and is rarely used. Only 1.5% of assisted reproductive treatments involve ZIFT.
Sources:
Assisted Reproductive Treatments. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Accessed May 26, 2009.
“Micro IVF - An Affordable and Successful Alternative to IUI.” IVFAuthority.com. Accessed May 26, 2009.
