What is gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)?

• A. Embryo adoption.
• B. A mixture of sperm and eggs placed directly into the uterus.
• C. A mixture of sperm and eggs placed directly into the fallopian tubes.
• D. Fertilized eggs transferred to the fallopian tube.

Answer: (C)

GIFT places a mixture of eggs (oocytes) and sperm directly into the fallopian tubes so fertilization occurs inside the body. The eggs are retrieved, combined with sperm, and this gamete mixture is delivered through a laparoscopic procedure into the fallopian tube, allowing natural fertilization to take place in situ and the resulting zygote to travel toward the uterus for implantation.

This differs from embryo adoption, which uses a fertilized embryo from another couple placed into the uterus, not gametes into the tubes. It also differs from transferring a mixture into the uterus, which would bypass the fallopian tubes. And it differs from transferring fertilized eggs into the fallopian tube (ZIFT), where fertilization occurs outside the body in a lab before placement.