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Growing interest in preimplantation genetic diagnosis has indicated uterine flushing as one method for obtaining human preimplantation embryos. To date, our institution has performed non-surgical uterine flushing to donate the recovered embryos to infertile recipients. We performed 127 flushings in 127 cycles using a modified urinary bladder catheter. Using the donors' natural cycles, a single ovum was recuperated in 37 out of 88 flushings. In 17 flushings, clomiphene citrate was given to the donors and 14 ova were found in nine positive recoveries. Human menopausal gonadotrophins were administered to the donors in 22 flushings and 22 ova were located in 14 positive recoveries. In total, 22 blastocysts, 11 morulae and 13 pre-embryos at the 2- to 16-cell stages were found. When transferred, these embryos gave rise to 18 clinical pregnancies in the recipients (40.9% of the transfers; 14.1% of the flushings). In comparison with natural cycles, superovulation of donors did not significantly increase the recipients' pregnancy rate. At present, non-surgical recovery of uterine pre-embryos does not seem to carry much potential as a tool for infertility treatment, or for genetic diagnosis. This is because currently available alternative methods are more successful.

Thirteen procedures of oocyte donation by the gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) technique are described. The patients included six women with premature ovarian failure, four normally cycling women with unexplained infertility who responded poorly to super-ovulation induction in preparation for GIFT, and lastly one woman carrier of a 16/21 balanced translocation. Two patients had oocytes donated on two occasions. Oocyte donors were recruited either among the patients' relatives (n = 4), or among GIFT or IVF patients (n = 8), who altruistically donated their extra oocytes. Donors were superovulated and oocytes collected laparoscopically or vaginally under ultrasound guidance. Donors did not suffer any complications. Recipients were given exogenous estrogens, and exogenous progesterone was added from the day of donation. Seven clinical pregnancies were obtained (53.8% per attempt); one set of triplets aborted at 14 weeks. Donation took place on replacement day 12-18 and pregnancies were obtained in patients receiving oocytes throughout this temporal window. The increasing availability of embryo-freezing facilities will probably reduce the number of ova available for donation. Therefore, the patients' families may become a precious source of donated eggs, especially for those patients having large families, with strong family ties.

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