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Artificial Intelligence in Health                                           AI in embryo selection for ART



            advancing age, health limitations, and adoption barriers,   IVF, and embryo freezing.  GIFT has an improved version
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            can contribute to broader acceptance and responsible   known as “New GIFT,” which has evolved from its earlier
            practices.  Legal and ethical concerns about surrogacy   form referred to as “Old GIFT.” The New GIFT approach
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            differ considerably among nations. Countries such as   is more effective than the Old GIFT, with the formation
            the USA, France, Germany, and Austria predominantly   of pregnancy primarily dependent on sperm motility and
            impose restrictions  on surrogacy, whereas  nations  such   oocyte count. The New GIFT approach, which involves
            as  India,  Russia,  and  Kazakhstan  hold  more  permissive   preincubation of oocytes, has a lower abortion rate (19%)
            legislation. Ethical discussions frequently classify   and a higher pregnancy rate (37% each cycle and 42%
            nations as either advocates or adversaries, highlighting   per patient) than the Old GIFT method (24% per cycle,
            concerns over the possible exploitation of women in poor   29% per ovum pick-up, and 22% abortion rate). It is more
            economic circumstances. Moreover, surrogacy prompts   effective overall because it highlights the significance of
            concerns regarding parental rights and acknowledgment.   mature oocytes and sperm motility, as well as benefits from
            The identification of the legal mother – be it genetic or   improved luteal support. 60,61
            gestational – differs by jurisdiction, further complicating
            the legal status of both the child and the surrogate. Certain   3.7.5. Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT)
            nations,  such  as  Israel,  have  established  extensive  legal   ZIFT combines the natural environment of the fallopian
            systems that may function as a model for international   tubes with IVF. In this method, zygotes are placed into
            standards. Furthermore, the commercialization of   fallopian tubes 24 h after fertilization in the lab following
            surrogacy  engenders  ethical  dilemmas  about  treating   ICSI. The transfer is carried out using a catheter during
            reproduction as a commercial process, possibly abusing   laparoscopy, allowing the zygotes to travel through the
            women in economically precarious circumstances. In   fallopian tubes naturally to the uterus. ZIFT is typically
            addition, ethical issues focus on the moral repercussions   considered by patients with fallopian tube issues or those
            of surrogacy as a type of contemporary slavery. 54,55  The role   seeking a more natural method for embryo implantation.
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            of the gestational surrogate is typically underestimated,   A 2-year study reported that ZIFT has a 40.4% clinical
            which can lead to ethical oversights, such as those found   pregnancy rate  and  a delivery/ongoing  rate  of  34.2%.
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            in adoption and donor-assisted conception. Therefore,   While IVF-ET has the highest cumulative take-home
            understanding the gestational connection is essential for   baby and pregnancy rates for treating male infertility,
            ensuring ethical surrogacy activities. On the other hand,   both GIFT and ZIFT show comparable rates of pregnancy
            the absence of international agreement on surrogacy   but are associated with higher rates of miscarriage.  In
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            legislation has led to the phenomenon of “surrogacy   IVF-ET cycles, ZIFT has proven particularly beneficial
            tourism,” where individuals pursue surrogacy services in   for patients experiencing repeated implantation failure.
            nations with more advantageous regulations. This situation   Research indicates that ZIFT considerably increases
            underscores the urgent need for internationally recognized   the likelihood of pregnancy and implantation in these
            standards  to safeguard  the  rights  and  well-being of  all   individuals compared to further IVF-ET cycles. For
            parties involved. 55,56                            example, patients with repeated implantation failures had
                                                               pregnancy rates of 34.2% with ZIFT compared to 17.1%
            3.7.4. Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)       with IVF-ET. 64,65  Despite these advantages, ZIFT is more
            GIFT is used to address infertility or genetic issues that may   invasive than conventional IVF-ET due to the requirement
            prevent spontaneous conception. Through GIFT, sperm and   of laparoscopy. Moreover, studies have shown that,
            eggs are inserted into the fallopian tubes, allowing internal   especially in cases involving male-factor infertility or non-
            fertilization. Along with other treatments, including IVF   tubal infertility, the added complexity of ZIFT does not
            and ET, GIFT is a part of the ART spectrum.  Several   always result in improved outcomes. 66,67
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            variables, including the quality of gametes and the physical
            and  psychological  conditions  in  which  the  operation  is   3.7.6. Artificial insemination
            conducted, affect the outcomes of GIFT.  Couples seeking   Artificial insemination involves the use of a syringe and an
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            reproductive treatment still have the option of GIFT, even   artificial insemination catheter to inject semen into a woman’s
            though it is less prevalent than IVF and ET.  For women   uterus. This medical treatment is performed in conjunction
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            with healthy fallopian tubes, GIFT is an easier and more   with homologous insemination, particularly in cases of
            effective assisted conception approach that provides higher   oligospermia or when sexual intercourse becomes difficult. In
            successful rates than IVF.  It is also an effective treatment   more complicated situations, donor sperm can be surgically
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            for non-tubal infertility, with a 32% rate of continued   inserted into a female’s oviduct through laparoscopic
            pregnancy and options for ovum donation, diagnostic   surgery; however, this method is more invasive, costly, and


            Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025)                         11                        https://doi.org/10.36922/aih.7170
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