Androgen: A hormone that stimulates the activity of the accessory male sex organs and encourages development of male sex characteristics. Also produced in large quantitiies in females.
ART(Assisted Reproductive Technology): A collective term for IVF, FICSIT, GIFT, PROST, ZIFT, TEST, ICSI.
AH(Assisted Hatching): The procedure in which the zona(or egg shell) is softened/thinned usually by laser or acid.
AI(Artificial Insemination): The depositing of sperm in the vagina near the cervix or directly into the uterus, with the use of a catheter instead of by sexual intercourse. This technique is used to overcome sexual performance problems, to avoid sperm-mucux interaction problems, to maximise the potential of poor semen, and for using donor sperm.
Blastocyst: 5 to 6 days after fertilisation, at 'normal' implantation time, the multıple cell embryo develops a cystic central structure.
Blastocyst Transfer: A recent advance in infertility treatment, in which embryos develop for about 5 days (until they reach blastocyst stage), rather than the usual 2 or 3 days in IVF.
Cervix: The lower section of the uterus which protrudes into the vagina and dilates during labour to allow the passage of the baby.
Corpus Luteum: A structure that forms at the site of an ovarian follicle after it releases an egg. The corpus lutem releases estrogen and progesterone, two hormones necessary for maintaining a pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs, the luteum functions for five or six months. If pregnancy does not occur, it stops functioning.
Cryospreservatıon: STorage of organs or tissues at very low temperatures. Embryos that are not used in an ART cycle can be cyrospreserved for future use.
Curettage(D&C): The scraping of the lining of the uterus by an instrument called a 'curette'.
Donor Insemination: The use of sperm from a male donor in order to achieve a pregnancy. Usually the husband has no sperm (or very few) and the chance of pregnancy is remote.
Egg Retrieval: A procedure used to obtain eggs from ovarian follicles for use in in vitro fertilisation. The procedure may be performed during laparoscopy or throught the vagina by using a needle and ultrasound to locate the follicle in the ovary.
Embryo: Term used to describe the early stages of foetal growth, from conception to the eigth week of pregnancy.
Embryo Transfer: Placing an egg fertilised outside the womb into a womans uterus or fallopian tube.
Endometrium: The membrane lining the uterus.
Endometriosis: The presence of endometrial tissue (the normal lining of the uterus) in abnormal locations such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries and peritoneal cavity.
Estrogen: Hormone that stimulates secondary female sexual characteristics and controls the course of the menstrual cycle. Also produced in low quantities in males.
Fallopian Tube: Either of a pair of tubes that conduct the oocyte(egg) from the ovary to the uterus. The eggs travel to the uterus once released from the follicle via the fallopian tube. Sperm normally meet the egg in the fallopian tube, the site at which fertilisation usually occurs.
Fertilisation: The combining of the genetic material carried by sperm and egg to create an embryo. Normally occurs inside the fallopian tube(in vivo) but may also occur in a Petri dish (in vitro). (See also in vitro fertilisation)
Fertility Specialist: A physician specialising in the practice of fertility.
Fertility Treatment: Any method or procedure used to enchance fertility or increase the likelihood of pregnancy such as ovulation induction treatment, varicocele repair( repair of varicose veins in the scrotal sac), and microsurgery to repair damaged fallopian tubes. The goal fo fertility treatment is to help individuals or couples to have a child.
Fibroid tumor: Benign (not malignant or life threatening) tumor of fribrous tissue that can occur in the uterine wall. There may be no symptoms or it may cause abnormal menstrual patterns or infertility.
Follicle: The structure within the ovary containing the ripening egg which is released at ovulation.
Follicular Phase: The first half of a womans ovarian cycle following menstruation and during which follicles grow.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone(FSH): A pituitary hormone that stimulates follicular development and spermatogenesis (sperm development). In the woman, FSH stimulates the growth of the ovarian follicle. In the man, FSH stimulates the Sertoli cells in the testicles and supports sperm production. Elevated FSH levels are associated with gonadal failure in both men and women.
Gamete: A reproductive cell, sperm in men, the egg in women.
GIFT(Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer): After egg retrieval, the eggs are mixed with sperm and then placed, using a minor sugical procedure(laparoscopy), into the womans follopians tubes for in vivo fertilisation.
GnRH(Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone): A substance secreted every ninety minutes or so by a part of the brain called the hypothalmus. This hormone enables the pituitary gland to secrete the LH and FSH, which stimulates the gonads.
Gonadotropins: Hormones that control reproductive function: Folicle Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone.
HCG(Human Chorionic Gonadotropin): The hormone produced in early pregnancy that keeps the corpus luteum producing progesterone. Also used via injection to trigger ovulation after some fertility treatment, and used in men to stimulate testosterone production.
Hypogonadism: Inadequate ovarian or testicular function as shown by low sperm production or lack of follicle production, as well as low or absent levels of FSH and LH.
Hysteroscopy: A visual examination of the uterus using an instrument called a hysteroscope, which enables the doctor to see into the organ without making a large incision.
ICSI(Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection): The IVF technique where using a micromanipulation(occuring under the microscope) procedure in which a single sperm is injected into the egg to enable fertilisation with very low sperm counts or with non-motile sperm( sperm that do not swim effectively toward the egg).
Infertility: The inability to conceive after a year of unprotected intercourse (six months if the woman is over the age of 35) or the inability to carry a pregnancy to term.
Intrauterine Insemination(IUI): A procedure in which a doctor places sperm directly into the uterus through the cervix using a catheter.
Implantation(embryo): The embedding of the embryo into tissues so it can establish contact with the mothers blood supply for nourishment. Implantation usually occurs in the lining of the uterus; however, in an ectopic pregnancy it may occur elsewhere in the body.
IVF(In Vitro Fertilisation): Eggs produced by administering fertility drugs are retrieved from the womans body and fertilised by sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are transferred by catheter to the uterus.
Laparoscopy: Examination of the pelvic region by using a small telescope called a laparoscope.
Luteal Phase: The last 14 days of a menstrual cycle which is associated with progesterone production.
LH(Luteinizing Hormone): A hormone produced and released by the pituitary gland that stimulates the gonads. It is responsible for ovulation and the maintenance of the corpus luteal function. In the man, LH is necessary for spermatogenesis and for the production of testosterone. In the woman, LH is necessary for the production of estrogen.
LH Surge(Luteinizing Hormone Surge): The release of LH that causes release of a mature egg from the follicle.
Mıcromanipulation: A variety of techniques that can be performed in a laboratory under a microscope. An embryologist manipulates egg and sperm to improve the chances of pregnancy. (See ICSI)
Miscarriage: Spontaneous loss of a viable embryo or foetus in the womb.
Oestrogen (or Estrogen): The primary female hormone produced mainly from the ovary from puberty until the menopause.
Ovaries: The female sex glands which produce eggs.
Ovulation: The release of the egg (ovum) from the ovarian follicle.
Ovarian Failure: The failure of the ovary to respond to FSH stimulation from the pituitary because of damage to ro malformation of the ovary, or a chronic disease such as autimmune disease. Diagnosed by elevated FSH in the blood.
Ovulation Induction: Medical treatment performed to initiate ovulation.
Ovum (Oocyte): The fully mature egg produced from the ovary each month.
Pıtuitary Gland: The gland located at the base of the brain, below the hypothalamus, which controls most hormone functions in the human.
Progesterone: The hormone produced by the corpus luteum (empty follicle) during the second half of a womans cycle ( after ovulation). It thickens the lining of the uterus to prepare it to accept implantation of a fertilised egg.
Recombinant DNA: DNA that has been modified so that it contains genes from two different sources. Recombinant technology is often used to produce highly pure therapeutic drugs.
Semen: The ejaculated fluid comprising sperm and secretions of the accessory sex glands of the male.
Spermatoza (Sperm): The microscopic cell that carries the males genetic information to the females egg; the male reprodcutive cell; the male gamete.
Sperm Count: The number of sperm in an ejaculate. Also called sperm concentration and given as the number of sperm per millilitre.
Sperm Motility: The ability of sperm to swim. Poor motility means the sperm have a difficult time swimming toward the egg.
Sterility: An irreversible condition that prevents conception.
Testosterone: The male hormone responsible for the formation of secondary sex characteristics and for supporting the sex drive. Testosterone is also necessary fro spermatogenesis(sperm development).
Ultrasound (scan): A modified 'radar' used to see the follicles in the ovary and pregnancy in the uterus.
Uterus (the womb): The female reproductive organ that supports the developing foetus. It is the source of a womans menstruation.
Vasectomy: The accidental or elective surgical seperation of the vasa deferential; a procedure used for birth control.
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