Technical terminology

A

Androgens
male sex hormones

Antibody
a chemical compound in the blood, mucus or semen
which interferes with normal sperm function

Anovulation
the absence of ovulation

Amniocentesis
withdrawal of amniotic fluid from the amniotic sac containing foetal cells. An amniocentesis allows the early detection of genetic diseases. It is usually performed between the 14th and 18th week of a pregnancy.

Amnion
the inner membrane of the sac in which the embryo develops

Aneuploidy
incorrect pairing of the chromosomes, such as Trisomy 21

Assisted Hatching
technical intervention to help the embryo breaking through the zona pellucida

Asthenozoospermia
a below normal number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate

Azoospermia
a complete absence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate

B

Blastocyst
a 5-day old embryo

Blastomere
a cell taken from a blastocyst

C

Cervical Mucus
secretions produced by the cervix that assist the passage of sperm

Cervix
the lower part of the uterus that connects with the vagina

Chlamydia
a sexually transmitted disease often inhibiting the reproductive system and causing infertility

Chorion
the outer membrane tissue of the primitive placenta

Chorion Villus Sampling (CVS)
removal of a small amount of placental chorionic villi. Like amniocentesis, a chorionic villus sampling allows the early detection of genetic diseases. It is usually performed between the 8th and 12th week of a pregnancy.

Cleavage
the division of a zygote to produce a blastocyst

Clomiphene Citrate
an orally administered ovarian stimulant

Counselling
a discussion aimed at giving you scientific advice and

emotional support
during infertility treatment

Cryopreservation
the storage of gametes by freezing at low temperatures

D

Donor Egg
eggs donated for the treatment of infertile couples

Donor Sperm
sperm donated for the treatment of infertile couples

E

Ectopic Pregnancy
a pregnancy in which the fertilised egg implants
in the fallopian tubes or abdominal cavity

Embryo
a fertilised egg that has the potential to develop to a foetus

Embryo Transfer (ET)
the replacement of embryos back into a woman’s uterus

Endometriosis
a female condition in which endometrial cells implant
outside the uterus or ovaries, causing internal bleeding, pain and infertility

Endometrium
the lining of the uterus which grows and is shed in each menstrual cycle

F

Fallopian Tubes
the pair of tubes leading from the ovaries to the uterus.
After an egg is released from one of the ovaries, it is transported through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. The fallopian tubes are the site of fertilisation in natural conception.

Fertilisation
the penetration of the egg by the sperm resulting in the formation of an embryo

Fibroids
a benign tumour that may occur in the uterine wall

Foetus
a term used for the embryo after the 8th week of pregnancy until birth

Follicle
a small sac in the ovary in which the egg develops

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
a hormone which stimulates the production of follicles in the ovaries

G

Gamete
a term used for the male sperm and female egg

Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)
a reproductive technology in which eggs and sperm are mixed and immediately replaced into the fallopian tubes so that fertilisation occurs inside the body

Gonadotrophin
a hormone that is capable of stimulating the testicles and ovaries to produce sperm or eggs

H

Hysterectomy
the surgical removal of the uterus

Hysterosalpingogram
an x-ray of the fallopian tubes, using a dye, to see if they are obstructed

I

Implantation
the embedding of an embryo in the endometrium of the uterus

Insemination
the artificial placing of fresh or frozen sperm into the female reproductive tract

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
the direct injection of a single sperm into the egg

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
the insemination of sperm into the uterus using a fine catheter

In vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
the procedure in which eggs and sperm are mixed in the laboratory. After fertilisation occurs, the resulting embryos will be transferred into the uterus where, it is hoped, they will implant and grow.

L

Laparoscopy
an examination of the abdominal organs using a fibreoptic telescope surgically inserted below the naval

Luteal Phase
the days in a menstrual cycle following ovulation

Luteinising Hormone (LH)
a hormone released by the pituitary gland that is essential for maturing and releasing the egg

M

Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA)
the extraction of relatively mature sperm from the epididymis using a small needle

Morula
a ball of cells forming about 3 to 4 days after cleavage of the fertilised egg

Multiple Pregnancy
a pregnancy where two or more foetuses develop in the uterus

N

Nucleus
the part of a cell which contains the genetic material

O

Oestrogen
female sex hormone produced by the ovaries

Oligozoospermia
abnormally low sperm count

Oocyte
the egg cell produced in the ovaries

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)
a serious medical condition following stimulation of the ovaries with gonadotrophin

Ovary
the female reproductive organ producing egg cells

Ovulation
the release of a mature egg from a follicle in the ovary

Ovum
the female egg

Ovulation Induction
the use of medication to promote ovulation

P

Pituitary
a gland in the brain producing many hormones including FSH and LH

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
a condition where many small cysts form around the ovaries
resulting in hormonal imbalances which can cause infertility

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
a diagnostic test performed on an embryo prior to transfer
to ensure it is free of genetic defects or chromosomal abnormalities

Progesterone
a hormone produced by the corpus luteum after ovulation
that helps prepare the inner lining of the uterus for imlantation of the fertilised egg

Pronucleus
egg cell prior to fertilisation

S

Stimulated Cycle
a fertility treatment in which hormones are used to increase the number of eggs produced within one menstrual cycle

T

Teratozoospermia
abnormal sperm morphology which causes infertility

Testicular Sperm Aspiration (TESA)
the removal of a small piece of testicular tissue from the testes using a fine needle to extract sperm

Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE)
the removal of a small piece of testicular tissue
through a small cut in the scrotum to extract sperm

U

Uterus
the female womb in which the embryo develops

Z

Zona Pellucida
the transparent membrane surrounding and protecting the egg

Zygote the fertilised egg

Zygote Intra-Fallopian Transfer (ZIFT) the transfer of fertilised eggs into the fallopian tubes