The patients who have been qualified for treatment due to the medical indications for fertilization procedures can take into account, as the alternative for the proposed treatment, the use of donated eggs or sperm, the use of in vitro fertilization program based on natural cycle (IVF –N) or child adoption; they can also take the decision on the resignation from parenthood. Also, it cannot be excluded with full certainty that despite the qualification for in vitro fertilization procedures, in the future partners will not be able to achieve pregnancy naturally, although such situations are fairly rare.
Treatment methods which are the alternative for IVF include also GIFT (Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer), ZIFT (Zygote Intra-Fallopian Transfer) or TET (Tubal Embryo Transfer) where egg cells and semen, fertilized eggs and developing embryos, respectively, are placed in fallopian tubes. However, these methods are neither applied nor recommended. Currently, they are considered historical.
In the course of the IVF procedure, the patient can also take the decision to use a method which is the alternative for embryo cryopreservation, that is freezing the gametes: semen and/or eggs.