Zygote intrafallopian transfer or in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer for the treatment of male-factor infertility: a prospective randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE

To compare zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) and in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) as treatments of male-factor infertility.

DESIGN

Patients were prospectively randomized to ZIFT or IVF-ET.

SETTING

In vitro fertilization program of the Centre for Reproductive Medicine of the Dutch-speaking Brussels Free University, Belgium, which is a tertiary referral institution.

PATIENTS: One hundred fifty-seven couples were enrolled in the study. Inclusion criteria allowed only first trials of couples with long-standing infertility caused by a male factor. Female factors were excluded.

INTERVENTIONS: In ZIFT, up to three fertilized oocytes were transferred into one single patient fallopian tube by means of laparoscopy 18 hours after insemination. In IVF-ET, cleaving embryos were replaced into the uterine cavity about 48 hours after insemination.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fertilization and transfer rates, implantation and pregnancy rates, pregnancy outcome, and cost per procedure were evaluated.

RESULTS

Implantation rates of 12.3% and 10% per replaced conceptus were achieved for ZIFT and IVF-ET, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates no therapeutic advantage of ZIFT over IVF-ET in male-factor infertility in terms of reproductive outcome or economic benefit.