Fertility Dictionary

abortion - medical termination of a pregnancy before the fetus has developed enough to survive outside the uterus; several types, including clinical, habitual, incomplete, missed, spontaneous, therapeutic and threatened

adhesions - scar tissue that attaches to the surface of organs

American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) - a non-profit organization that works to advance knowledge and expertise in reproductive medicine through multidisciplinary information, education and advocacy

androgen (adrenal androgen ) - hormone produced by the adrenal gland which, when found in excess, may lead to fertility problems in both men and women; excess androgens in a female may lead to the formation of male secondary sex characteristics and the suppression of LH and FSH production by the pituitary gland; may also be associated with excess prolactin levels

andrologist - a medical doctor or Ph.D. who specializes in the study of male reproduction

anovulation - the failure to ovulate

artificial insemination - the placement of a sperm sample inside the female reproductive tract to increase the chances of fertilization and pregnancy; two types: 1) intrauterine insemination (IUI) places the sperm into the uterus, 2) intracervical insemination (ICI) places the sperm into the cervix

aspiration - a surgical technique used to obtain sperm or eggs

assisted hatching - a laboratory procedure that chemically dissolves an embryo surface to improve the likelihood of implantation

assisted reproductive technology (ART) - any fertility treatment in which both eggs and sperm are handled; procedures generally involve surgically removing eggs from a woman's ovaries, combining them with sperm in the laboratory, and returning them to the woman's body or donating them to another woman

Asherman's syndrome - a condition in which the walls of the uterus adhere together to an extent where the uterine cavity itself is diminished; defined by uterine inflammation, adhesions, and scarring

asthenozoospermia - low sperm motility

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baby aspirin - A low dose of aspirin (80-100 mg) used in infertility treatment to increase blood flow to the uterus

barrier method - a device that will not allow semen or sperm to come into contact with the cervix; among the oldest known contraceptives

basal body temperature - the body temperature of a person immediately upon awakening before any activity; can be taken orally or rectally and recorded daily on a graph. A jump in temperature (by approximately 0.5°F) may be evidence of ovulation; a drop may be evidence of the onset of menses or a miscarriage

beta hCG test (BhCG) - a blood test used to determine pregnancy; gives a positive reading if human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is present in the blood

birth control pill - a form of contraception in pill form taken once daily to prevent ovulation; contains the hormones estrogen and progesterone

birth defect - any abnormality, biochemical, functional or structural, that is present at birth; may manifest itself in infancy or become apparent later in life; may be caused by genetic or other factors

blastocyst - an embryo that has developed for approximately five days after fertilization with two cell types and a central cavity; surface cells will become the placenta, inner cells will become the fetus

blastocyst transfer - a type of ART that allows embryos to reach blastocyst stage before they are transferred into the uterus

blighted ovum - a fertilized egg that implants in the uterus, but does not develop further and dies

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cancelled cycle - discontinuation of an ART cycle, usually prompted by poor response to hormone therapy, no egg recovery or failed fertilization

cervix - the lower section of the uterus which protrudes into the vagina; dilates during labor to allow the passage of the fetus and keeps infections from invading the uterus

cervical OS - the tip of the cervix and opening to the uterus

cervical mucus - secretions produced by the cervix; the amount and texture change during ovulation to allow sperm penetration

cervical stenosis - a narrowing or a constriction of the cervical canal; impedes the sperm from swimming through to the uterus

chemical pregnancy - an apparent, but not real, pregnancy; hCG level rises to yield a positive test result, but does not lead to a clinical pregnancy

chlamydia - the most common sexually transmitted disease; caused by the bacterium chlamydia trachomatis; can infect both men and women and cause infertility in both sexes; may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease in women and epididymitis infection in men; treatable with antibiotics

chocolate cyst - an ovarian cyst filled with blood; occurs when endometriosis invades an ovary and causes it to swell

coitus - sexual intercourse

clinical pregnancy - a pregnancy verified by both a blood test and ultrasound evidence of a gestational sac in the first trimester

Clomid - the brand name of the fertility drug Clomiphene Citrate; used to stimulate production of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone

conception - the fertilization of an egg by sperm that leads to the creation of an embryo; also used to describe the start of pregnancy, marked by the implantation of the embryo into the uterine lining

Conception Cap - a device which is filled with semen and then fitted against the cervix to place sperm in direct contact with the cervical opening in order to avoid a hostile vaginal environment in hopes of increasing the chance of conception

colposcopy - use of a scope to examine the cervix for abnormal cells

congenital - a characteristic or defect present at birth; may be hereditary or acquired during gestation

corpus luteum - remnant of a follicle after ovulation; releases progesterone to preserve the uterine lining

cryopreservation - a procedure used to preserve and store embryos or sperm by deep freezing; embryos or sperm can be thawed at a later date and used in infertility treatments

cycle - the period of time, approximately one month, when an infertility treatment is initiated and continuing until the treatment is halted or completed

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dilation and curettage (D&C) - a surgical procedure in which the cervix is expanded (dilated) so that the cervical canal and uterine lining can be scraped with a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette

dysmenorrhea - painful menstruation

dyspareunia - painful sexual intercourse

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ectopic pregnancy - occurs when a fertilized egg doesn't travel into the uterus, but instead grows rapidly in the fallopian tube

egg donation - the process in which eggs, removed from the ovaries of one woman, are donated for use by another

egg donor - a woman who donates her eggs for use by another woman

egg retrieval - a surgical procedure, usually under sedation, to collect the eggs contained within the ovarian follicles

embryo - a developing baby in the early stages of fetal growth, from conception to the eighth week of pregnancy; in IVF treatments, a fertilized egg between one and five days old

embryo transfer - placing an embryo (fertilized egg) into the uterus for implantation

embryologist - a professional trained in advanced laboratory techniques who prepares and provides the necessary conditions for the fertilization of eggs, as well as facilitates the growth, development, maturation, and preservation of embryos

endometrial biopsy - the extraction of a tiny piece of tissue from the endometrium for examination under a microscope for abnormal cells

endometriosis - the presence of endometrial tissue (uterine lining) in areas outside the uterus, such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries; often causes painful menstruation and infertility

endometrium - the lining of the uterus

epididymis - the elongated organ in the male that lies above and behind the testicles where sperm are stored, nourished and ripened for several months

estradiol - the estrogen hormone produced by the ovaries; responsible for formation of the female secondary sex characteristics and supports the growth of ovarian follicles and the development of the uterine lining

estrogen - a group of female hormones responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics; produced mainly by the ovaries from the onset of puberty until menopause

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fallopian tube - either of a pair of tubes that conduct eggs from an ovary to the uterus during natural fertilization

female factor infertility - the condition when a couple's infertility is attributed to the woman

fertility clinic - a specialized medical practice employing reproductive endocrinologists and embryologists who treat male and female infertility with treatments including fertility drugs, artificial insemination, egg donation and surgery

fertility drugs - a class of medications used in infertility treatments

fertility specialist - a gynecologist with additional specialization in infertility and assisted reproductive technologies such as IUI, ICSI, IVF and more.

fertilization - penetration of an egg by a sperm and the fusion of genetic material

frozen embryo transfer - the use of a frozen embryo in an IVF procedure

fetus - a developing baby after the embryo stage, from the ninth week of pregnancy to the moment of birth

fibroids - non-cancerous tumors within the wall of the uterus; can cause infertility

follicle - a fluid-filled sac on the ovary that contains a ripening egg

follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) - a hormone produced by the pituitary gland which stimulates the ovary to ripen a follicle for ovulation

follicular phase - the portion of the menstrual cycle when the ovarian follicle develops

frozen embryo - an embryo that has been preserved and stored by deep freezing that can be thawed at a later date and used in infertility treatments

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gamete - a sperm or egg

gamete intra-fallopian tube transfer (GIFT) - a surgical procedure in which a sperm-egg mixture is transferred into the fallopian tubes where natural fertilization may occur

genetic birth defect - a birth defect caused by genetic factors

gestation - the period of fetal development in the uterus from conception to birth, usually 40 weeks in humans

gestational carrier - a woman who carries the pregnancy to term but is not the genetic parent of the baby; also called a surrogate

gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) - a hormone produced by the hypothalamus that controls the synthesis and release of the pituitary hormones FSH and LH

gonads - the glands that make reproductive cells and sex hormones; testicles in men, ovaries in women

gonadotropin - a hormone that can stimulate the testicles to produce sperm or the ovaries to produce an egg

gynecologist - a doctor who specializes in the diseases and routine physical care of the reproductive system of women

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hormone - a chemical substance produced by one organ in the body that regulates the activity of another organ

human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) - a hormone secreted by the placenta that preserves pregnancy by prolonging the life of the corpus luteum and stimulating progesterone production

human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) - a natural product extracted from the urine of postmenopausal women containing both human FSH and LH used to treat both male and female infertility and to stimulate the development of multiple eggs

hydrocele - a fluid-filled swelling in the scrotum

hysterectomy - the removal of the uterus; a partial hysterectomy removes the uterus, a total hysterectomy removes the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes

hysterosalpingogram (HSG) - an x-ray procedure used to determine whether the fallopian tubes are open and capable of functioning properly; can also reveal the configuration of the uterus, irregularities, and the presence of fibroids

hysteroscopy - a surgical procedure in which a telescope-like device is inserted through the cervix to view the inside of the uterus; sometimes performed in conjunction with a laparoscopy

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idiopathic 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

infertility - the inability of a couple to achieve a pregnancy after one year of regular unprotected sexual relations, or the inability of a woman to carry a pregnancy to live birth

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

in vitro fertilization (IVF) - an infertility treatment procedure in which one or more eggs, each removed from a ripe follicle, is fertilized by sperm outside the human body before being placed in a woman's uterus to implant and result in pregnancy

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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

LH surge - a spontaneous release of large amounts of luteinizing hormone during a woman's menstrual cycle that stimulates the ovarian follicle to release its egg, resulting in ovulation

luteal phase - the days of a menstrual cycle following ovulation and ending with menses; usually lasts between 12 and 14 days

luteinizing hormone (LH) - a hormone that causes the ovary to release a mature egg (ovulation); stimulates testosterone production in males

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male factor infertility - the condition when a couple's infertility is attributed to the man

menstruation - a recurring cycle (beginning at menarche and ending at menopause) in which the endometrial lining of the uterus prepares for pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the tissue and blood is shed

metrorrhagia - menstrual spotting during the middle of the cycle

microinsemination - a laboratory technique in which sperm are injected next to the egg cell surface to increase the likelihood of fertilization

micromanipulation - a procedure used to treat male factor infertility in which a single sperm is injected under the outer layer of the egg to induce fertilization

microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) - a procedure in which sperm are obtained from the epididymis by aspiration or surgical incision

miscarriage - also called a spontaneous abortion, a pregnancy that ends before the fetus can survive outside the uterus; may occur because the fetus is not developing properly or because the placenta is not attached properly

mittelschmerz - discomfort felt on one side of the lower abdomen at the time of ovulation

multiple birth - the birth of two or more offspring produced in the same gestational period

multiple gestation - the conception of two or more fetuses in the same woman at the same time, whether or not they result in live births

myomectomy - the surgical removal of non-cancerous fibroid tumors from the wall of the uterus.

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nulliparous - never having given birth to a child

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OB/GYN - see gynecologist

oligo-ovulation - irregular ovulation

oligomenorrhea - infrequent menstrual periods

oligospermia - a condition in which the number of sperm in a semen sample is abnormally low

oocyte - the egg cell produced in the ovaries; also called the ovum or gamete

oocyte donation - the process in which eggs, removed from the ovaries of one woman, are donated for use by another

oocyte retrieval - a surgical procedure, usually under sedation, to collect the eggs contained within the ovarian follicles

ovarian cyst - a fluid-filled sac inside the ovary; may be found in conjunction with ovulation disorders, tumors of the ovary and endometriosis

ovarian failure - the failure of the ovary to respond to FSH stimulation from the pituitary because of damage to or malformation of the ovary

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

ovary - one of a pair of female gonads, which make eggs and estrogen

ovulation - the release of a mature egg from a follicle at the surface of an ovary

ovulation calendar/chart - any method of ovulation tracking which plots a woman's cycle with the objective of finding her most fertile days to increase the chance of getting pregnant or to avoid pregnancy; parameters for plotting include temperature, cervical mucus thickness and cervical position

ovulation dysfunction - a problem existing in the ovaries where either something is abnormal in the process of developing the follicle or the egg is not released from the follicle

ovulation induction - medication to stimulate egg development and release

ovulation test - any method which can detect ovulation

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Pap smear (Papanicolaou smear) - a screening test to evaluate the cells of the cervix to determine whether they are normal

pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) - inflammatory disease of the pelvis, often caused by infection, that can lead to infertility

period - see menstruation

preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) - genetic testing of embryos in IVF to help avoid certain genetic birth defects, such as Cystic Fibrosis, Down Syndrome, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Hemophilia A, Tay Sachs Disease and Turner Syndrome

pituitary gland - a gland in the endocrine system located at the base of the brain just below the hypothalamus; controls hormonal factories throughout the body, including the gonads, the adrenal glands and the thyroid gland

placenta - the embryonc tissue that implants in the uterine wall and provides a mechanism for exchanging the baby's carbon dioxide and waste products for the mother's nutrients and oxygen

polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) - a condition found in women who don't ovulate, characterized by excessive production of androgens (male sex hormones) and the presence of cysts in the ovaries; symptoms include weight gain, acne, excessive hair growth and infertility

postcoital test (PCT) - microscopic study of samples of vaginal and cervical secretions taken several hours after sexual relations and examined for live, moving sperm

premature ovarian failure (POF) - the cessation of menses associated with high levels of gonadotropins and low levels of estrogen before age 40

primary infertility - infertility in women who have never conceived; sometimes extended to include those who have conceived but not had a live birth

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 gland; elevated levels in the blood can indicate disorders that may hinder ovulation

prostate gland - a gland encircling the male urethra that produces some of the fluid in semen, including a chemical that liquefies the coagulated semen twenty minutes to one hour after entering the vagina

pyospermia - the presence of white blood cells in the semen that may indicate inflammation or infection

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recurrent miscarriage - repeated miscarriages

reproductive endocrinologist (RE) - a physician trained in obstetrics and gynecology who further specializes in treating infertility with surgical procedures and assisted reproductive technologies including IUI, ICSI, IVF and more

reproductive immunologist (RI) - a physician who specializes in combining obstetrics and gynecology with immunology to treat reproductive disorders that are related to immune problems

reproductive surgeon - a surgeon who specializes in the surgical correction of anatomical disorders that affect reproductive function

resistant ovary - an ovary that cannot respond to the follicle-stimulating message sent by follicle stimulating hormone

retrograde ejaculation - a male fertility problem where sperm travels into the bladder instead of out of the penis due to a failure in the sphincter muscle at the base of the bladder

retroverted uterus - a uterus that is tilted back toward the rectum

Rh factor - genetically determined antigens present in the red blood cells of most people and capable of inducing intense immunologic reactions

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salpingectomy - surgical removal of the fallopian tubes

salpingitis - an inflammation of one or both fallopian tubes

Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) - an organization of professionals dedicated to the practice of assisted reproductive technologies in the United States

secondary infertility - the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy after having conceived and carried one or more pregnancies

semen - the fluid portion of the ejaculate consisting of secretions from the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and several other glands in the male reproductive tract; provides nourishment and protection for the sperm and a medium in which the sperm can travel to the woman's vagina

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)

sonogram - a picture taken of the follicles in the ovaries or the fetus in the uterus during an ultrasound; can be used to measure growth

sperm - the microscopic cell that carries the male's genetic information to the female's egg; the male reproductive cell; the male gamete

sperm antibodies - entities that may attack and destroy sperm cells; can be produced by both women and men

sperm bank - a place where sperm are kept frozen in liquid nitrogen for later use in artificial insemination

sperm count - the number of sperm in ejaculate; also called sperm concentration or sperm density and given as the number of sperm per milliliter

sperm donation - providing a sample of sperm for use in assisted reproductive treatments

sperm maturation - a process during which the sperm grow and gain their ability to swim (takes about 90 days)

sperm morphology - a semen analysis factor that indicates the number or percentage of sperm in the sample that appear to have been formed normally

sperm motility - the ability of sperm to swim; poor motility means the sperm have a difficult time swimming toward the egg

sperm penetration - the ability of the sperm to penetrate the egg so it can deposit the genetic material during fertilization

sperm wash - a technique for separating sperm from seminal fluid

split ejaculate - a method of collecting a semen specimen so that the first portion of the ejaculate is caught in one container and the rest in a second container

spontaneous abortion - a miscarriage or the unintended termination of a pregnancy before the twentieth week

sterility - the total inability to reproduce; not to be confused with infertility

stimulation - administration of hormones that induce development of multiple ovarian follicles

surrogate - a woman who becomes pregnant through insemination with the sperm of the husband of an infertile woman, and then following delivery, turns the child over for adoption by the couple

swim-up test - a technique that separates motile sperm from non-motile sperm and cellular debris in a semen sample; the most motile sperm will "swim up" and are more easily separated for insemination

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testicle - one of two male sexual glands contained in the scrotum which produce the male hormone (testosterone) and reproductive cells (sperm)

testicular biopsy - a small excision of testicular tissue to determine the ability of the cells to produce normal sperm

testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) - a procedure in which sperm are obtained directly from the testicles by either aspiration or surgical incision of the testicular tissue

testosterone - the most potent male sex hormone; produced in the testes

therapeutic insemination (TI) - a procedure in which a sperm from a male partner or from a donor is placed into a woman's vagina or cervix; also called artificial insemination, but distinct from intrauterine insemination

tubal embryo transfer (TET) - a surgical procedure in which an egg which has been fertilized and has divided outside the woman's body is transferred to the fallopian tubes

tubal ligation - female sterilization as a result of tying the fallopian tubes

tubal reversal - special surgery to reverse sterilization caused by tubal ligation

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ultrasound - a technique used to view the follicles in the ovaries or the fetus in the uterus; three types: 1) baseline ultrasound shows the ovaries in their normal state, 2) follicular ultrasound shows egg follicle maturation, 3) pregnancy ultrasound shows if a pregnancy is in the uterus or in a fallopian tube

unexplained infertility - see idiopathic infertility

unicornuate uterus - an abnormality in which the uterus is "one-sided" and smaller than usual

uterine fibroids - see fibroids

uterus - the hollow, muscular organ in the woman that holds and nourishes the fetus until the time of birth

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vaginal ultrasound - a technique used to view the follicles, fetus, and other soft tissues by projecting sound waves through a probe inserted into the vagina

varicocele - a collection of varicose veins in the scrotum which causes blood to flow in an abnormal direction towards the testicles

vas deferens - a pair of thick-walled tubes about 45 centimeters long in the male that lead from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct in the prostate; the ducts make wave-like contractions to propel sperm forward

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zygote - a fertilized egg (embryo) in the early stages of development

zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) - the surgical transfer of a zygote (fertilized egg) into a fallopian tube one day after fertilization

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