CUMULATIVE PREGNANCY AND LIVE BIRTH-RATES AFTER GAMETE INTRAFALLOPIANTRANSFER

To evaluate the efficacy of gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) the Kaplan-Meier life table method was used to analyse a patient cohort t reated with GIFT between 1991 and 1994. In a tertiary referral centre for reproductive medicine, 1628 women with a median age of 33 years an d various causes of infertility were included to calculate cumulative pregnancy and live birth rates. Age and cause of infertility were main factor variables and the study was based on a total of 2941 consecuti ve GIFT cycles, leading to a first clinical pregnancy, and 3052 cycles , leading to a first live birth. The cumulative pregnancy and live bir th rates were 49.6 and 38.8% respectively, after three initiated cycle s and 64.1 and 52.0% respectively, after five initiated cycles. The mu ltiple pregnancy rate was 22.6%. The implantation rate of 13.1% after GIFT demonstrates that the developing embryo benefits from a period of exposure within the environment of the Fallopian tube. The present re sults indicate that similar to 50% of couples will have at least one l ive baby after five initiated GIFT cycles. Advancing age was a major n egative prognostic factor for the cumulative live birth rate because o f higher cancellation rates, lower implantation rates and higher pregn ancy failure rates.