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Glossary

  • Adhesion – In infertility, the sticking of ovaries, tubes, uterus, bowel and abdominal lining to one or more of each other so as to affect fertility
  • Androgens – Male sex hormones
  • Anovulation – The absence of ovulation. PCOS is the most common cause of anovulation
  • Assisted conception – A range of medical treatments ranging from artificial insemination to in vitro fertilisation
  • Artificial insemination – Insemination of semen into the uterus. The male partner’s sperm of donated sperm can be used
  • Azoospermia – The absence of sperm in the seminal fluid due to blockage of sperm ducts or impaired sperm production
  • Biopsy – Taking a small sample of tissue for further testing under the microscope
  • Biochemical pregnancy – Is a positive hCG blood test with no evidence of gestation sca on ultrasound
  • Blastocyst – An embryo that displays a fluid filled cavity and two populations of cells, a single outer layer of cells (trophectoderm) and an internal collection of cells (inner cell mass). This is usually seen on day 5 or 6 after fertilisation of oocyte
  • Catheter – A fine tubing for transferring of sperm and embryos into the woman’s uterus
  • Cervix – The lower part of the uterus that connects with the vagina
  • Cervical mucous – Secretions produced by the cervix that, at the time of ovulation, assist the passage of sperm through the cervix
  • Cetrotide – Injectable medication to prevent spontaneous ovulation. It is a GnRH antagonist
  • Clomiphene/Serophene – A drug to stimulate the ovary to produce several follicles
  • Crinone gel – A vaginal gel containing progesterone that is used as an alternative to progesterone vaginal pessaries
  • Corpus luteum – This structure produces progesterone, the hormone necessary for transforming the endometrium so that an embryo can implant and develop
  • Cryostorage – Storage at very low temperature of sperm, oocytes or embryos
  • Donor oocyte – Eggs taken from a woman and donated to another
  • Donor Sperm – Sperm produced from a man who is not the woman’s partner to be used for artificial insemination or IVF
  • Egg – Oocyte
  • Ectopic pregnancy – A pregnancy in which the embryo implants anywhere but in the uterine cavity
  • Ejaculate – Semen ejaculated from the penis
  • Embryo – A fertilised egg that has started to divide
  • Embryo biopsy – A biopsy, or removal of one or two cells form an early embryo. It is used for preimplantation genetic diagnosis and screening
  • Egg pick up (EPU) – Egg collected by using transvaginal ultrasound. This is generally done under general anaesthetic or light sedation
  • Embryo transfer – The placement of an embryo into the uterus using a fine catheter under ultrasound guidance
  • Endometriosis – Presence of endometrial tissue(normal uterine lining) somewhere else. It can be associated with period pain and infertility
  • Endometrium – The lining of the uterus which grows and is shed each menstrual cycle
  • Epididymis – A special duct at the back of the testis for the storage of sperm as they mature
  • Fallopian tubes – A pair of narrow tubes that carry the egg from the ovary to the body of uterus. Fertilisation occurs in the outer end of the tube
  • Fertilisation – Penetration of the egg by the sperm
  • Fibroids – A benign tumour of fibrous tissue that may occur in the uterine wall. It can be associated with miscarriage and infertility
  • Fetus – The developing human after embryo stage from ninth week of pregnancy to birth
  • Follicle – A small fluid filled cyst on the ovary in which the eggs grow
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone – A hormone produced by the pituitary gland which is essential for the growth of ovarian follicles in the woman and sperm production in man
  • Follicle tracking – Serial transvaginal ultrasound during the follicular phase to track the growth of one or more follicles
  • Follicular phase – The first half of the menstrual cycle when ovarian follicular development occurs
  • Gamete – The male or female reproductive cells, the sperm or egg
  • GnRH-agonist – First cause a flare of FSH and LH as they stimulate and then down regulate the pituitary. Examples of GnRH agonist are Synarel and Lucrin
  • GnRH antagonist – They suppress the levels of FSH and LH without first causing the flare. It has less side effects compare to GnRH agonist. Examples are Orgalutron and Cetrotide
  • Gonadotrophin – A hormone that is capable of stimulating the ovaries and testicles to produce eggs or sperm respectively
  • Hormone – A chemical produced by an endocrine gland in the body that circulates in the blood and has widespread action throughout the body
  • Human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG) – A hormone secreted by the placenta to tell the corpus luteum to continue producing progesterone
  • Implantation – The process by which the embryo embedded in the endometrium of the uterus
  • Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) – Refers to direct injection of a single sperm into the cytoplasm of the egg. It is used to overcome severe male factor infertility
  • Infertility – The inability to conceive to term after twelve months of unprotected sex
  • Intrauterine insemination (IUI) – The placement of prepared sperm into the womb using a fine catheter. The sperm can be from the male partner or a donor
  • In vitro fertilisation (IVF) – A process by which egg from a female partner and the sperm from a male partner are mixed in the laboratory. The fertilised egg is then transferred back into the womb
  • Laparoscopy – A surgical investigation using a telescope-like instrument to view the pelvic organs
  • Last menstrual period – The normal period immediately preceding conception
  • LH surge – The release of large quantity of LH that triggers ovulation
  • Luteal phase – The days of menstrual cycle following ovulation up to menstruation
  • Luteinising hormone (LH) – A hormone secreted by the pituitary and its main function is to mature and release egg
  • Miscarriage – The delivery of a conceptus before there is a viable fetus
  • Nuchal translucency – A measurement of the tissues in the neck of the fetus. This measurement is performed by using transvaginal ultrasound
  • Oligospermia – An abnormally low number of sperm in the seminal fluid
  • Ovulation – The release of a mature egg from the ovary
  • Ovulation induction – The use of medication to promote ovulation in women who normally do not ovulate
  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) – A complication resulting from ovulation induction. The ovaries become large and there is excessive fluid released into the abdomen. It is a serious condition and in moderate or severe cases, patients need to be treated in hospital
  • Oestrogen – Oestrogens develops the watery mid cycle changes in cervical mucus and also thickens the endometrium required for implantation
  • Pituitary gland – A gland located at the base of the human brain that secretes a number of hormones related to normal growth, development and reproduction
  • Progesterone – Is important in preparing the lining of the womb for implantation of fertilised egg
  • Polycystic ovaries (PCO) – Presence of lots of medium sized follicles visible around the rim of the ovaries
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – A syndrome that consists of polycystic ovaries associated with any clinical symptom and sign of too much male hormone or long or absent cycles
  • Polyp – A benign growth of tissue, usually in the lining of the uterus
  • Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) – Genetic diagnosis of an IVF/ICSI embryo before embryo transfer. This involves biopsy of the embryo on day 3 and transferring the embryo at blastocyst stage
  • Recurrent miscarriages – A series of two or more miscarriages
  • Semen – Fluid produced by the male genital tract at ejaculation. It contains spermatozoa and other substances. Sperm accounts for only 1% of the volume of ejaculate
  • Surrogate – A woman who has a baby on another woman’s behalf
  • Synarel – Is a nasal spray which initially stimulates and then suppress the pituitary gland
  • Testicle – The male sex gland that produce sperm and testosterone
  • Testicular biopsy – A biopsy of testis that can be performed either by a fine needle or an open procedure
  • Testosterone – Male sex hormone
  • Ultrasound – An imaging to visualise the female reproductive system. It is usually performed transvaginally
  • Uterus – Womb
  • Zona pellucida – The outer protective coat of the egg