GAMETE INTRAFALLOPIAN TRANSFER (GIFT) COMPARED WITH INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION IN THE TREATMENT OF UNEXPLAINED INFERTILITY

Objective - To compare GIFT, intrauterine insemination (IUI) with, and without, ovarian hyperstimulation in the treatment of unexplained infertility. Design-Women randomly allocated to one of three treatment protocols. Setting - Northern Regional Fertility Centre. Subjects - 59 couples with unexplained infertility of more than 3 years duration. Interventions - Three cycles of either GIFT, IUI after ovarian hyperstimulation or IUI in a spontaneous cycle. Main outcome measures - Pregnancy resulting in a live birth. Results - Fecundabilities were 0.12 after GIFT, 0.018 after ovarian hyper-stimulation and IUI, and 0.018 after IUI in a spontaneous cycle. The fecundability after IUI was no different from that which would be expected without treatment in these couples but fecundability was significantly better (P > 0.02) after GIFT. Conclusions - This trial does not support the use of IUI in the treatment of unexplained infertility but confirms the value of GIFT.