Glossary of Terms
Adhesions:
Scar tissue in or around the pelvic organs that may or may not interfere with fertility. Artificial insemination:
A technique in which a doctor injects semen directly into a woman's cervix or uterus during her most fertile time of the month. Assisted reproductive technology (ART):
A term used to describe advanced interventions, such as IVF, that infertility specialists use to help egg meet sperm. Blastocyst: An embryo that is five or more days old Cryopreservation:
Freezing sperm or pre-embryos in liquid nitrogen and storing them for future use. Egg donation:
Extraction of healthy eggs from a third party for subsequent use in IVF. Egg-retrieval surgery:
A surgical technique in which eggs are suctioned out of the ovaries in preparation for IVF or a related procedure. Embryo:
A fertilized egg from initial cell division through the first six to eight weeks of gestation. Thereafter, it is known as a fetus. Embryologist:
A laboratory specialist who concentrates on the fertilization and growth of embryos. Endocrinology:
The study of the body's hormone-secreting glands. Endometrium (endometrial lining):
The lining of the uterus, which grows each month and is sloughed off during the menstrual period or remains intact to nurture an embryo if conception takes place. Endometriosis:
A cause of infertility, in which the lining of the uterus migrates to other regions of the body, usually in the pelvic region, causing scarring and sometimes damaging the fallopian tubes and ovaries. Endoscopy:
A diagnostic surgical procedure to view the pelvic organs (laparoscopy) or inside of the uterus (hysteroscopy) via a small fiber-optic telescope. Therapeutic surgery may be performed during this procedure. Estrogen:
A group of female hormones vital for sexual development and reproduction; secreted primarily by the ovaries but also by the adrenal glands and, during pregnancy, by the placenta. Fallopian tubes:
Narrow, four-inch-long ducts that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. Fertility drugs:
Prescription drugs used alone or combined to induce ovulation, including clomiphene citrate (Clomid or Serophene), hMG (Humegon, Metrodin or Pergonal) and GnRH analogs (Lupron, Synarel). Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH):
A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates egg maturation in the ovaries. Gamete:
Medical term used to describe both eggs and sperm. Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT):
The injection of one or more eggs mixed with washed sperm into the fallopian tube(s) in the hope that fertilization will occur. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH):
A reproductive hormone secreted by the hypothalamus, which stimulates the pituitary to secrete FSH and LH. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG):
A hormone that is produced by the placenta during early pregnancy; hCG stimulates the ovaries to produce other hormones B estrogen and progesterone B needed to maintain the pregnancy. HCG is used to trigger ovulation before egg retrieval and is measured to detect pregnancy. Hypothalamus:
A small region of the brain that coordinates the function of the nervous and endocrine systems. Hysterosalpingogram (HSG):
An x-ray that allows the physician to view the size and shape of the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes; also known as the tubal dye test. Hysteroscopy:
An endoscopic procedure in which a doctor views the interior of the uterus. In vitro fertilization (IVF):
A technique in which eggs are harvested from the ovaries and mixed with sperm in a petri dish and allowed to fertilize to the embryo stage (two to three days) or the blastocyst stage (five to six days). At that point, embryos or blastocysts are transferred to the uterus. IVF is also known as "test-tube" fertilization; sometimes used as a catchall term for GIFT, ZIFT, and other types of advanced reproductive technology. Infertility:
The inability to become pregnant, or to make a woman pregnant, after one year of trying; or the inability to sustain a pregnancy naturally. Infertility specialist:
A medical doctor with advanced training in infertility or reproductive endocrinology. Intrauterine insemination (IUI):
A type of artificial insemination in which washed semen is injected into the uterus. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI):
Micromanipulating a single sperm captured in a thin glass needle and injected directly into the egg. ICSI assists fertilization in cases of severe sperm dysfunction. Laparoscopy:
A surgical procedure in which a rigid tube is inserted into the abdomen, usually through the navel, to allow the doctor to view or treat the reproductive organs. Luteinizing hormone (LH):
A hormone produced by the pituitary to help stimulate the ovary to mature and release an egg. Male factor:
A catchall term used to describe infertility caused by problems with sperm or its production, such as insufficient numbers, poor motility, odd shape and so forth. Micromanipulation:
A variety of mechanical procedures that promote the entry of sperm into the egg. Motility:
Term used to describe mobility, or swimming movements, of sperm. Ovaries:
Two almond-sized structures in the pelvis, adjacent to the ends of the fallopian tubes, which release eggs and secrete hormones into the bloodstream. Ovulation induction:
The stimulation of the ovaries by fertility drugs to release one or more eggs. Pituitary:
Known as the "master gland," the pituitary is located in the base of the brain and is responsible for controlling other endocrine glands, which secrete a variety of hormones, including those involved in reproduction. Pre-embryo:
The stage of fertilization that occurs after two days: pre-embryos are transferred to the uterus in IVF. Progesterone:
A female sex hormone secreted by the ovaries after ovulation to aid implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus and to continue pregnancy. Sperm washing:
Laboratory procedures that eliminate dead sperm and debris from the seminal fluid, enhancing sperm's ability to fertilize an egg. Varicocele:
A varicose vein, usually located just above the left testicle, that is believed to cause infertility in certain men by impairing sperm development. Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT):
An ART in which eggs fertilized to the zygote stage (after 24 hours B before the first cell division) in a petri dish are transferred to the fallopian tubes.
Scar tissue in or around the pelvic organs that may or may not interfere with fertility. Artificial insemination:
A technique in which a doctor injects semen directly into a woman's cervix or uterus during her most fertile time of the month. Assisted reproductive technology (ART):
A term used to describe advanced interventions, such as IVF, that infertility specialists use to help egg meet sperm. Blastocyst: An embryo that is five or more days old Cryopreservation:
Freezing sperm or pre-embryos in liquid nitrogen and storing them for future use. Egg donation:
Extraction of healthy eggs from a third party for subsequent use in IVF. Egg-retrieval surgery:
A surgical technique in which eggs are suctioned out of the ovaries in preparation for IVF or a related procedure. Embryo:
A fertilized egg from initial cell division through the first six to eight weeks of gestation. Thereafter, it is known as a fetus. Embryologist:
A laboratory specialist who concentrates on the fertilization and growth of embryos. Endocrinology:
The study of the body's hormone-secreting glands. Endometrium (endometrial lining):
The lining of the uterus, which grows each month and is sloughed off during the menstrual period or remains intact to nurture an embryo if conception takes place. Endometriosis:
A cause of infertility, in which the lining of the uterus migrates to other regions of the body, usually in the pelvic region, causing scarring and sometimes damaging the fallopian tubes and ovaries. Endoscopy:
A diagnostic surgical procedure to view the pelvic organs (laparoscopy) or inside of the uterus (hysteroscopy) via a small fiber-optic telescope. Therapeutic surgery may be performed during this procedure. Estrogen:
A group of female hormones vital for sexual development and reproduction; secreted primarily by the ovaries but also by the adrenal glands and, during pregnancy, by the placenta. Fallopian tubes:
Narrow, four-inch-long ducts that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. Fertility drugs:
Prescription drugs used alone or combined to induce ovulation, including clomiphene citrate (Clomid or Serophene), hMG (Humegon, Metrodin or Pergonal) and GnRH analogs (Lupron, Synarel). Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH):
A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates egg maturation in the ovaries. Gamete:
Medical term used to describe both eggs and sperm. Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT):
The injection of one or more eggs mixed with washed sperm into the fallopian tube(s) in the hope that fertilization will occur. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH):
A reproductive hormone secreted by the hypothalamus, which stimulates the pituitary to secrete FSH and LH. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG):
A hormone that is produced by the placenta during early pregnancy; hCG stimulates the ovaries to produce other hormones B estrogen and progesterone B needed to maintain the pregnancy. HCG is used to trigger ovulation before egg retrieval and is measured to detect pregnancy. Hypothalamus:
A small region of the brain that coordinates the function of the nervous and endocrine systems. Hysterosalpingogram (HSG):
An x-ray that allows the physician to view the size and shape of the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes; also known as the tubal dye test. Hysteroscopy:
An endoscopic procedure in which a doctor views the interior of the uterus. In vitro fertilization (IVF):
A technique in which eggs are harvested from the ovaries and mixed with sperm in a petri dish and allowed to fertilize to the embryo stage (two to three days) or the blastocyst stage (five to six days). At that point, embryos or blastocysts are transferred to the uterus. IVF is also known as "test-tube" fertilization; sometimes used as a catchall term for GIFT, ZIFT, and other types of advanced reproductive technology. Infertility:
The inability to become pregnant, or to make a woman pregnant, after one year of trying; or the inability to sustain a pregnancy naturally. Infertility specialist:
A medical doctor with advanced training in infertility or reproductive endocrinology. Intrauterine insemination (IUI):
A type of artificial insemination in which washed semen is injected into the uterus. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI):
Micromanipulating a single sperm captured in a thin glass needle and injected directly into the egg. ICSI assists fertilization in cases of severe sperm dysfunction. Laparoscopy:
A surgical procedure in which a rigid tube is inserted into the abdomen, usually through the navel, to allow the doctor to view or treat the reproductive organs. Luteinizing hormone (LH):
A hormone produced by the pituitary to help stimulate the ovary to mature and release an egg. Male factor:
A catchall term used to describe infertility caused by problems with sperm or its production, such as insufficient numbers, poor motility, odd shape and so forth. Micromanipulation:
A variety of mechanical procedures that promote the entry of sperm into the egg. Motility:
Term used to describe mobility, or swimming movements, of sperm. Ovaries:
Two almond-sized structures in the pelvis, adjacent to the ends of the fallopian tubes, which release eggs and secrete hormones into the bloodstream. Ovulation induction:
The stimulation of the ovaries by fertility drugs to release one or more eggs. Pituitary:
Known as the "master gland," the pituitary is located in the base of the brain and is responsible for controlling other endocrine glands, which secrete a variety of hormones, including those involved in reproduction. Pre-embryo:
The stage of fertilization that occurs after two days: pre-embryos are transferred to the uterus in IVF. Progesterone:
A female sex hormone secreted by the ovaries after ovulation to aid implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus and to continue pregnancy. Sperm washing:
Laboratory procedures that eliminate dead sperm and debris from the seminal fluid, enhancing sperm's ability to fertilize an egg. Varicocele:
A varicose vein, usually located just above the left testicle, that is believed to cause infertility in certain men by impairing sperm development. Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT):
An ART in which eggs fertilized to the zygote stage (after 24 hours B before the first cell division) in a petri dish are transferred to the fallopian tubes.
