What is a "zygote intra-fallopian transfer" or "ZIFT"?

What is a "zygote intra-fallopian transfer" or "ZIFT"?

Richard Paulson (Chief, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, USC) gives expert video advice on: How often do assisted reproductive technology treatments produce multiple children?; Are assisted reproductive technology treatments expensive? and more...

Zygote intra-fallopian transfer, or ZIFT, is an assisted reproductive technology in which the egg and sperm are allowed to come together to form an early embryo -- also called a zygote. Then the embryos, or the zygotes, are placed in the Fallopian tube so that they may arrive in the uterus via the natural route, which is through the Fallopian tubes. It is used as an alternative to IVF (in vitro fertilization) in cases where perhaps IVF is not working, or in women in whom the standard form of embryo transfer is very difficult -- such as women who have had previous surgery on their uterus or women who may have an ‘anomalous uterus,' meaning a uterus that has a funny shape to it, such as it's heart-shaped or V-shaped or Y-shaped. Those women seem to do better if we do a ZIFT procedure rather than regular IVF or the standard embryo transfer.