| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Andrologist | A medical doctor or Ph.D. who specializes in the study of male reproduction. |
| Anovulation | A condition in which a woman does not ovulate (produce and release eggs). Menses may still occur |
| ART | Refers to assisted reproductive technologies, and includes a variety of procedures, techniques and testing that may be used to achieve a pregnancy. |
| Assisted Hatching | A laboratory procedure that dissolves an embryo surface to improve the likelihood of implantation using chemicals or lasers. |
| Azoospermia | The absence of sperm in the seminal fluid, usually caused by a blockage or an impairment of sperm production |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta hCG Test (BhCG) | A blood test to determine pregnancy, it gives a positive reading if human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is present in the blood |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBC (Complete Blood Count) | A routine preoperative blood test that gives information regarding infection and anemia. | |||
| Cervical Mucus | Secretions produced by the cervix. The thickness of the mucus varies according to the phase of the menstrual cycle. In the days just before ovulation, the mucus is easily penetrable by sperm. | |||
| Cervix | The lower section and opening of the uterus that protrudes into the vagina. Sperm pass through the cervix into the uterus during intercourse. It dilates during labor to allow the passage of the infant. | |||
| Chemical Pregnancy | A very early pregnancy detectable only by a blood test for hCG. The hCG level in the blood rises high enough to yield a positive pregnancy test, but then stops rising and does not lead to a clinical pregnancy, but may result in a very early miscarriage. | |||
| Clinical Pregnancy | A pregnancy that is confirmed by a fetal heartbeat on ultrasound, around the 6-7 week gestational age and onwards. | |||
| Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid/Serophene) | A synthetic drug used to stimulate production of follicle stimulating hormone and lutenizing hormone. Often used to treat milder forms of ovulation failure or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). | |||
| Corpus Luteum | The corpus luteum is made from a follicle that housed a maturing egg. It releases progesterone, a hormone that preserves the uterine lining. |
| Term | Description |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ectopic Pregnancy | A pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants outside the uterine cavity (usually in the fallopian tube, the ovary or the abdominal cavity). May require surgical intervention or use of medications (Methotrexate) to stop growth | |||
| Egg Vitrification | Recent cryopreservation technique which "flash freezes" eggs, preventing the formation of ice crystals in the cell, which can rupture the eggs delicate membranes and damage its structure | |||
| Embryo donor recipient | An intended parent who will undergo an embryo transfer of a donated embryo for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy for themselves and their partner (if applicable) | |||
| Embryo donor(s) | A person or persons who choose(s) to donate their embryo(s) to a known or anonymous recipient for the purpose of achieving pregnancy for the recipient and their partner (if applicable) | |||
| Embryologists | Professionals trained in advanced laboratory techniques who prepare and provide the necessary conditions for the fertilization of eggs. They also facilitate the growth, development, maturation, and preservation of embryos. | |||
| Endometriosis | The presence of endometrial tissue (the uterine lining) in areas outside of the uterus such as the tubes, ovaries and peritoneal cavity. This condition can cause painful menstruation and infertility. | |||
| Endometrium | The glandular membrane lining the uterus where implantation occurs. | |||
| Estrogen | A group of female hormones responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics. Estrogen is produced mainly by the ovaries from the onset of puberty until menopause. |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fallopian Tube | Either of a pair of tubes that conduct eggs from an ovary to the uterus. Natural fertilization takes place as an egg travels through a fallopian | |||
| Female Factor Infertility | The condition when a couple's infertility is attributed to the woman. | |||
| Fertilization | Penetration of an egg by a sperm and the fusion of genetic material. | |||
| Fetal Reduction (or Selective Reduction) | A medical procedure to decrease the number of fetuses in a multiple gestation. | |||
| Follicle | Fluid-filled sac on the ovary that (usually) contains a ripening egg. The follicle can release an egg at ovulation. A physician can retrieve the egg from the follicle during an ART treatment cycle. | |||
| Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) | A purified or recombinant form of follicle stimulating hormone, FSH can be injected under the skin to stimulate development and maturation of follicles. | |||
| Follicular Phase | The portion of the menstrual cycle when ovarian follicle development takes place, (usually the first 14 or so days after menses begins). |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamete | A sperm or an egg. | |||
| Gamete donor | A person who donates oocytes or sperm to a known or anonymous recipient for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy for the recipient and their partner (if applicable) | |||
| Gamete donor recipient | An intended parent who will undergo ART procedures using either donor sperm or donor oocytes for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy for themselves and their partner (if applicable) | |||
| Gamete provider | A person who provides either the oocyte or sperm for an embryo which will be transferred to a surrogate for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy for themselves and their partner (if applicable) | |||
| Gestation | The period of fetal development in the uterus from conception to birth, usually 40 weeks in humans. | |||
| Gestational Surrogate | A person who undergoes an embryo transfer in order to achieve and carry a pregnancy for another person/couple, who will be the intended parent(s) of the child. the gestational surrogate is not genetically linked to the embryo. | |||
| GnRH (Gonadotropin Release Hormone) | A hormone that controls the synthesis and release of the pituitary hormones FSH and LH. GnRH is produced by the hypothalamus. | |||
| Gonadotropin | A hormone that can stimulate the testicles to produce sperm or the ovaries to produce an egg. |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Chronic Gonadotropin (hCG) | A hormone secreted by the placenta that preserves the pregnancy by prolonging the life of the corpus luteum and stimulating progesterone production. A pregnancy test is positive when hCG is detected. It can be administered therapeutically (Pregnyl or Profasi) to help solve some infertility problems. | |||
| Hysteroscopy | A surgical procedure in which a telescope-like device is inserted through the cervix to view the inside of the uterus. This procedure is sometimes performed in conjunction with a laparoscopy. |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idiopathic Infertility (Unexplained Infertility) | The term used when no reason can be found to explain the cause of a couple's infertility. | |||
| Implantation | The embedding of the fertilized egg in the lining of the uterus. | |||
| In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) | A procedure in which one or more eggs, each removed from a ripe follicle, is fertilized by a sperm outside the human body. | |||
| Intended Parent(s) | A person or couple who intend to parent a child who is conceived through third party reproduction. and intended parent may provide their gamete for the creation of an embryo | |||
| Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) | A laboratory procedure in which a single sperm is directly inserted into an individual egg. | |||
| Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) | The introduction of specially prepared sperm directly into the uterus through the cervix. |
| Term | Description |
| Term | Description |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laparoscopy | A surgical procedure in which a telescope-like device is inserted through a small incision near the navel to view the pelvic cavity, the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. | |||
| Luteal Phase | The days of a menstrual cycle following ovulation and ending with menses (usually lasting between 12 and 14 days). | |||
| Luteinizing Hormone (LH) | A hormone that causes the ovary to release a mature egg (ovulation). In the male, LH stimulates testosterone production. LH is secreted by the anterior pituitary. In the female, LH stimulates progesterone production after ovulation has occurred. |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male Factor Infertility | The condition when a couple's infertility is attributed to the man. | |||
| Myomectomy | The surgical removal of non-cancerous fibroid tumors originating from the wall of the uterus |
| Term | Description |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oligozoospermia | A condition in which the number of sperm in a semen sample are abnormally low. | |||
| Oocyte | A female reproductive cell also known as ovum or egg cell. | |||
| Oocyte donation recipient | An intended parent or a surrogate who will undergo ART procedures using donor oocytes for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy for themselves or for intended parents (if applicable) | |||
| Oocyte donor | A person who donates oocytes to a known or anonymous recipient for the purposes of achieving a pregnancy for the intended parent(s) | |||
| Oocyte Retrieval | A surgical procedure, usually under sedation, to collect the eggs contained with the ovarian follicles before ovulation. The physician inserts a needle into the follicle, draws out the follicle's fluid and egg through the needle, and then places the flu | |||
| Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) | A possible side effect of medically induced ovulation, characterized by swollen, painful ovaries and, in some cases, the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and chest. | |||
| Ovulation | Release of a mature egg from a follicle at the surface of the ovary. | |||
| Ovulation Induction | The therapeutic use of drugs or hormones to stimulate egg development and release. Useful hormones and hormone-based medications include clomiphene citrate, Pergonal, Humegon, Repronex, Follistim, Gonal F, Bravelle and hCG (Pergonol, Pregnyl or Ovidrel) |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progesterone | A hormone secreted by the corpus luteum of the ovary after ovulation has occurred. Also produced by the placenta during pregnancy. | |||
| Prolactin | A hormone produced by the pituitary. The level of prolactin in the blood can reveal hypothalmic-pituitary disorders that may hinder ovulation. | |||
| Primary infertility | Someone or a couple who is struggling to have their first child. |
| Term | Description |
| Term | Description |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary Infertility | The inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy after having given birth to one or more children. | |||
| Semen Analysis (SA) | A microscopic examination of freshly ejaculated semen to evaluate the number of sperm (count), the percentage of moving sperm (motility), and the size and shape of the sperm (morphology). | |||
| Sperm donor | A person who donates sperm to a known or anonymous recipient for the purposes of achieving a pregnancy for intended parent(s) | |||
| Sperm donation recipient | An intended parent or a surrogate who will undergo ART procedures to carry a pregnancy using donor sperm for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy for themselves or intended parents (if applicable). | |||
| Sperm provider | A person who provides sperm for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy for themselves and their partner (if applicable) | |||
| Sperm Wash | A technique for separating sperm from seminal fluid. |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Testicular Biopsy | A small excision of testicular tissue to determine the ability of the cells to produce normal sperm. Or to retrieve sperm for use in IVF/ICSI. | |||
| Testosterone | The most potent male sex hormone; produced in the testes. | |||
| Traditional surrogate | A person who undergoes an insemination from a sperm donor or sperm provider in order to achieve and carry a pregnancy for another person/couple, who will be the intended parent(s) of the child. the intended parent(s) may or may not be genetically linked to the embryo. a traditional surrogate is therefore both an egg donor and the carrier for the pregnancy. |
| Term | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uterus | The hollow, muscular organ in the woman that holds and nourishes the fetus until the time of birth. |
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