Oocyte recovery, in vitro insemination, and transfer into the oviduct after its microsurgical repair at a single laparotomy.

A method combining recovery of a preovulatory oocyte, its in vitro insemination, and transfer into the oviduct with tubal microsurgery at a single laparotomy is described. Of four women in whom tubal microsurgery was clinically indicated and the accompanying tubal transfer of an oocyte inseminated in vitro was performed, two became pregnant. It is not clear whether fertilization occurred in vitro or in vivo. One of the pregnancies miscarried in the fifth week after surgery; the other pregnancy continued without any complications. A normal male infant was subsequently delivered at term. The proposed method is discussed as a possible alternative to in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in some cases of infertility and as a suitable supplemental procedure in some cases in which tubal microsurgery is indicated.