Baby Greenhouse
Fertility/TTC Terms list
Adhesions - Scar tissues that attach to the surfaces of organs
Amenhorrea - Medical term used to describe the absence of periods.
Andrologist - Someone who specializes in the study of male reproduction
Anovulation - The total absence of ovulation, (Menses may still occur).
Assisted Hatching - A microinjection procedure that chemically dissolves the embryo surface to facilitate implantation.
Azoospermia - The absence of sperm in the seminal fluid. This may be due to a blockage or an impairment of sperm production.
Basal body temperature (BBT) - The body temperature of a person recorded immediately upon awakening, before any activity is undertaken. The temperature is recorded daily on a chart, which can show some evidence of ovulation.
Beta hCG Test (BhCG) - A blood test to determine pregnancy
Blighted Ovum (Egg) - A general term used to mean a fertilized egg that fails to survive after implantation in the uterus.
Cancelled cycle - Discontinuation of the cycle due to one of the following: poor response, no ocyte recovery or failed fertilization.
Cervical Mucus - Secretions produced by the cervix, which vary in viscosity according to the phase of the menstrual cycle, and become penetrable by sperm in the days preceding ovulation.
Cervix - The lower section of the uterus which protrudes into the vagina and dilates during labour to allow the passage of the infant
Chemical Pregnancy - A positive hCG level in the blood that fails to continue to rise and does not lead to a clinical pregnancy
Chlamydia - An STD which can lead to infertility (see Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)
Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid/serophene) - Used to stimulate production of FSH and LH. It is usually used to treat women who fail to ovulate regularly.
Cryopreservation - A procedure that is used to preserve and store embryos or sperm by freezing.
Down Regulators - Used as the first part of IVF to put the woman’s system into a temporary menopausal state, so that super-ovulation treatment can be controlled properly.
Ectopic Pregnancy - A pregnancy in which the fertilised egg implants outside the uterine cavity and has to be terminated, or risks the mother’s death.
Embryo - Used to describe the first eight weeks of fetal growth.
Endometriosis - This condition means that the normal womb lining can be present in areas outside the uterus. It can cause pain and fertility problems.
Endometrium - The lining of the uterus
Fallopian Tube - The tunes that the egg travels through from the ovary to the uterus.
Fertilisation - When the sperm penetrates the egg
Fetal Reduction - A procedure that decreases the number of fetuses in a multiple pregnancy.
Fetus - The developing human organism from the eight week of pregnancy
Fibroid/ Myoma - A non-cancerous tumour found within the uterus
Follicle - A fluid-filled sack, which contains the ripening, egg. This is where the egg is released from at ovulation.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) - A hormone that is produced in the pituitary gland. This stimulates the ovary to ripen an egg.
Follicular Phase - When the ovarian follicle development takes place
Gamete - An egg or a sperm
Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer - A procedure where a sperm/egg is transferred by laparoscopy into the fallopian tubes in order for natural fertilistation may occur
Hormone Assay - Also known as hormone tests. They include: FSH, testosterone, oestrogen, thyroid and prolactin.
Human Chorionic Gonadtropin (hCG) - A hormone that is secreted during pregnancy that prolongs the life of the corpus luteum and stimulates progesterone production. This is the hormone that gives a positive pregnancy test. It is also used in ovulation therapy (including IVF egg collection), to ensure that eggs are matured and released to specific controlled timescales.
Hysterectomy - The removal of the uterus this can include removing the ovaries and tubes and sometime the cervix.
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG, Hysterogram, Tubogram) - A procedure, which uses a x-ray to show, injected dye moving through the tubes to make sure they are open. It will also show any irregularities including fibroids.
Hysteroscopy - A surgical procedure where a telescope device is inserted through the cervix so that the uterus can be seen.
Implantation - When the fertilised embryo embeds into the lining of the uterus.
Infertility - The inability of a couple to get pregnant after trying for one year. It also includes the inability of a woman to carry a pregnancy to a live birth.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) - An insemination procedure where a single sperm is directly inserted into an egg.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) - The introduction of prepared sperm directly into the uterus.
In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) - A procedure during which an egg is removed and is fertilised by a sperm outside the body.
Laparoscopy - A procedure where an incision is made through which a telescope device s inserted so that the uterus and fallopian tubes can be seen.
Luteinising Hormone - A hormone that causes the mature egg to be released by the ovary.
LH Surge - The release of large amounts of luteinising hormone. This normally results in ovulation
Luteal Phase - The days of a menstrual cycle following ovulation and ending with menstruation.
Menstruation - The shedding of the uterine lining.
Morphology - The percentage of correctly-shaped sperm in a semen sample.
Motility - The percentage of moving sperm in a semen sample.
Myomectomy - The removal of fibroid tumours from the uterus.
Oestrogen - Female hormone responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics.
Oligo-Ovulation - Irregular ovulation
Oligospermia - Where the number of sperm in a semen sample is abnormally low
Oocyte - An egg
Oocyte Donation - Eggs that are removed from one woman for use by another woman
Ovulation - The monthly release of the mature egg from the ovary
Ovulation Induction - The use of female hormone to stimulate egg development and release.
PCO/ PCOS - Polycycstic Ovaries / Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome; a very common cause of fertility problems
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - Inflammation of the pelvis often caused by an infection or STD (see Chlamydia)
Postcoital Test (PCT) - Study of samples of cervical mucus taken after intercourse where the movement of sperm can be monitored.
Primary Infertility - When a first pregnancy cannot be achieved.
Secondary Infertility - When a second pregnancy can not be conceived or carried to term (after having a child already).
Semen - The sperm that is ejaculated during orgasm
Semen Analysis (SA) - A sperm sample is analysed in order to check the number of sperm, percentage moving and how well they move.
Sperm Wash - When sperm is separated from seminal fluid
Sterility - The total inability to reproduce.
Swim-up Test - This separates the motile sperm from non-motile sperm and cellular debris in a semen sample.
Uterus - The womb that holds and nourishes the fetus until birth.
Vaginal Ultrasound - This allows the pelvis to be visualised by projecting sound waves through a probe that has been inserted into the vagina.
Zygote - An embryo in the early stages of development.