Difference Between IVF GIFT and ZIFT

The key difference IVF GIFT and ZIFT is that IVF Gift is an infertility treatment where egg cells are removed from a woman’s ovaries and placed in one of the fallopian tubes using laparoscopy, along with the man’s sperms to be fertilized while IVF Zift is an infertility treatment where egg cells are removed from a woman’s ovaries, in vitro fertilized with sperms and the resultant zygote is placed in the fallopian tube by using laparoscopy.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the first assisted reproductive technologies of fertilization where an egg is combined with a sperm outside of the body in laboratory conditions. This process involves stimulating a woman’s ovulatory process, removing ova from ovaries, and letting sperms fertilize ova in a culture medium in the laboratory. IVF Gift and Zift are two modified versions of assisted reproductive technologies.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is IVF GIFT
3. What is IVF ZIFT
4. Similarities – IVF GIFT vs ZIFT
5. IVF GIFT vs ZIFT in Tabular Form
6. Summary – IVF GIFT vs ZIFT

What is IVF GIFT?

GIFT (gamete intrafallopian transfer) is an infertility treatment where egg cells are removed from a woman’s ovaries and placed in one of the fallopian tubes using laparoscopy, along with the man’s sperms to be fertilized. This process was first attempted by  Steptoe and Edwards. And later, it was developed by endocrinologist Ricardo Asch. It takes approximately four to six weeks to complete a Gift cycle.

IVF GIFT Treatment Cycle

First, the woman must take fertility drugs to stimulate egg production. Then the doctor will monitor the ovarian follicles, and once they are matured, the woman will be injected with HCG hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin). Later, after 36 hours, eggs will be harvested and mixed with man’s sperms. Finally, this mixture will be placed back in the woman’s fallopian tubes using a laparoscope.

A woman must have one fallopian tube in order to perform Gift. It can be done in instances when there is sperm dysfunction and when the couple suffers from idiopathic (unknown cause) infertility. It has been estimated that approximately 25-30% Gift cycles result in pregnancy. Moreover, it faces fewer bioethical concerns and issues over other modern reproduction techniques.

What is IVF ZIFT?

ZIFT (zygote intrafallopian transfer) is an infertility treatment where egg cells are removed from a woman’s ovaries, in vitro fertilized with sperms, and the resultant zygote is placed into the fallopian tube by using laparoscopy. It is a spin-off of the gamete intrafallopian transfer procedure.

IVF ZIFT Cycle

The Zift cycle takes four to six weeks to complete. In this procedure also, first, the woman must take fertility drugs to stimulate egg production. Once the eggs are matured, the woman will receive an injection that contains HCG hormone. The eggs will be harvested approximately 36 hours later. After fertilization in the laboratory conditions, the resultant zygotes are placed in the woman’s fallopian tubes using a laparoscope.

Pregnancy and implantation rates in ZIFT cycles are 23.2 – 52.3 %. However, this technique has more bioethical concerns as fertilization takes place in the laboratory.

What are the Similarities Between IVF GIFT and ZIFT?

• Both are modified versions of assisted reproductive technology.
• They have a better pregnancy rate than traditional IVF.
• Both techniques address infertility issues.
• They both use laparoscopes.
• In both techniques, the gametes or zygote transfers to the fallopian tube.
• Both require surgical procedures.
• These are very expensive than traditional IVF.

What is the Difference Between IVF GIFT and ZIFT?

GIFT is an infertility treatment where egg cells are removed from a woman’s ovaries and placed in one of the fallopian tubes using laparoscopy, along with the man’s sperms to be fertilized. In contrast, ZIFT is an infertility treatment where egg cells are removed from a woman’s ovaries, in vitro fertilized with sperms and the resultant zygote is placed into the fallopian tube by using laparoscopy. So, this is the key difference between IVF GIFT and ZIFT. Moreover, Gift has a less successful pregnancy rate compared to Zift.

Below is a summary of the difference between IVF GIFT and ZIFT in tabular form.

Summary – IVF Gift vs Zift

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) includes medical procedures that are used primarily to address infertility issues. Gift and Zift are two modified versions of assisted reproductive technologies. Gift is a technique where egg cells are removed from a woman’s ovaries and placed in one of the fallopian tubes using laparoscopy, along with the man’s sperms to be fertilized. On the other hand, Zift is a technique where egg cells are removed from a woman’s ovaries, in vitro fertilized with sperms, and the resultant zygote is placed into the fallopian tube by using laparoscopy. Thus, this is the summary of the difference between IVF GIF and ZIFT.