An A-Z of Fertility Terms

Andrology
The study of fertility in men

Asthenozoospermia
Slow moving sperm

Azoospermia
Absence of sperm from the seminal fluid

Buserelin
A drug used in IVF treatment. It acts on the pituitary gland to down-regulate the body’s own hormone production and encourage favourable reaction to the other hormone drugs in IVF treatment. It also helps the ovaries to produce better quality eggs in greater quantities.

Cervix
The neck of the womb, which has a canal leading to the uterine cavity.

Cleaved Embryo
A fertilised egg, which has undergone cell division.

Clomid or Clomiphene
A fertility drug used to induce ovulation. It stimulates the pituitary gland to release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) which causes follicles containing eggs to be developed and released. It may be used in the preparation of the female partner for IUI.

Corpus Luteum
During ovulation, the follicle carrying the egg ruptures to release the egg and the resulting structure is known as the corpus luteum. This is responsible for the production of progesterone, a vital hormone in pregnancy.

Cryopreservtion
The freezing and storage of embryos at minus 196oC.

Culture Medium
The fluid in which eggs and embryos are grown in the laboratory.

Cytoplasm
The jelly-like substance that surrounds the nucleus of a cell.

Donor Treatment
A treatment where either eggs, sperm or embryos are donated.

Ectopic Pregnancy
A pregnancy that develops outside a woman’s womb; typically in the fallopian tubes.

Embryo
When the woman’s egg is fertilised by the man’s sperm an embryo is formed. The embryo grows in pregnancy to a fetus.

Endocrinology
The study of hormones.

Endometriosis
A medical disorder in which the cells that line the wall of the womb are present outside the womb; either in the ovaries or elsewhere in the pelvis.

Endometrium
The lining of the womb

Epididymis
A highly convoluted tube that connects the testis to the vas deferens. The sperm are moved along the tube and are stored in the lower part until ejaculation.

Fibroid
A benign muscle growth in the wall of the womb.

Follicle
Fluid sac that surrounds each egg produced by the ovaries. These are counted and measured via an ultrasound scan during the stimulation phase of your IVF treatment cycle.

FSH
Follicle stimulation hormone – a hormone produced in the body by the pituitary gland that stimulates the growth of egg follicles.

GEEP
Represents the initials of the drugs ‘gonadotrophin exogenous oestrogen and progesterone’ which are the drugs used to stimulate a menstrual cycle prior to the replacement of frozen embryos.

HCG
Human chorionic gonadotrophin is a hormone produced in pregnancy that helps to maintain high progesterone output, thus helping the uterus accept the embryo. During IVF treatment, HCG is injected to mature the egg follicles and help prepare the uterus for embryo replacement. In an early pregnancy test it is levels of HCG that are detected in the blood in a positive test.

 

HMG (Human Menopausal Gonadotrophin)
This is the general name for the drug used in IVF treatment to stimulate the growth of egg follicles. There are many different trade names (eg Puregon, Menopur, Gonal-F). They contain FSH alone or FSH and LH (luteinising hormone).

Hysteroscopy
An operation in which a thin telescope is inserted through the neck of the womb into the cavity of the womb. Small polyps and fibroids can be removed by hysteroscopic surgery.

ICSI
Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection. A procedure to overcome low sperm count, motility, or antisperm antibodies by injecting a single sperm into the egg.

Implantation
The embedding of the embryo in the lining of the womb.

In-vitro
A Latin word, meaning “in glass”, referring to the ‘test tube’ in which fertility treatments originally took place.

Laparoscopy
An investigation of the woman’s reproductive system using a thin telescope inserted through the navel whilst under general anaesthesia. Although no thicker than a fountain pen, the telescope magnifies the surgeon’s view of the fallopian tubes, the ovaries and the uterus and is vital in diagnosing certain causes of infertility, such as blocked tubes, endometriosis or adhesions.

LH
Luteinising hormone, a hormone produced naturally in the body by the pituitary gland that controls ovulation. The ‘LH surge’ indicates that ovulation will occur in about 36 hours. The LH surge is stimulated by the increase in oestrogen in the blood created by the growing egg follicle.

Puregon/Menopur
Stimulation drugs containing FSH and LH. (Stimulate the growth of egg follicles).

Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia
Low sperm count with a high percentage of slow moving and abnormal sperm.

Oligozoospermia
Low sperm count.

Oocytes
Eggs

Orgalutran
Another drug used to suppress ovulation.

Ovarian Hyper-stimulation Syndrome (OHSS)
A potentially serious complication when fertility drugs are used and too many follicles develop in the ovaries. The symptoms include lower abdominal pain, swelling of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting and sometimes shortness of breath. Treatment involves bed rest with increased fluid intake and in rare cases hospitalisation and IV fluids.

Ovulation
The release of an egg from the ovary mid-way through the menstrual cycle. This is the optimal time for fertilisation to occur.

Polyp
A benign growth of the lining of the womb (endometrium). If large, could potentially affect the chances of implantation of the embryo.

Progesterone
A hormone secreted in the body that helps to prepare the uterus for the implantation of the embryo. Progesterone levels can be measured in the blood stream and show a marked increase after ovulation has occurred.

Set up appointment
An appointment approximately 19 days from the start of a period. Some IVF treatment commences on this day.

Super-ovulation
The release of several eggs from the ovary s a result of fertility treatment.

Teratozoospermia
High levels of abnormal sperm.

Ultrasound
Modern diagnostic equipment that works by aiming ultrasonic sound waves and displaying visual interpretation of the echoes on a screen. Vaginal ultrasound is an internal use of this equipment to provide a clear view of the ovaries, follicles, fallopian tubes and womb. Ultrasound is also used in pregnancy to provide a diagnostic picture of the fetus.

Uterus
The womb – the part of a woman’s reproductive system in which the embryo grows.

Vas deferens
The tube connecting the testis (via the epididymis) to the urethra.