Gamete intra-fallopian transfer in male sub-fertility

Between July 1985 and July 1987, GIFT was performed in 69 out of 255 patients (87 of 333 treatment cycles) treated because of male infertility. In this group a pregnancy rate of 30% per cycle was achieved, compared to an overall pregnancy rate of 35%. Indications for GIFT include long-standing infertility that has not responded to any other method of treatment, andrological sub-fertility and various forms of genital pathology with patent tubes. These results show that the pregnancy outcome after GIFT in couples with severe male infertility is significantly lower than that following GIFT in patients with long-standing infertility. The pregnancy rates seem, however, much higher than those achieved using intrauterine insemination. In this paper, the results of treating couples with male sub-fertility by GIFT are discussed in detail.