It is the goal of our staff to provide you with the latest
women's healthcare innovations to address infertility and
coexisting gynecologic problems. Backed by a superb laboratory
team, CRH has enabled thousands of couples to conceive.
Contact us to schedule
an appointment or have additional questions about infertility
treatment at CRH.
Abortion,
Spontaneous: the medical term for miscarriage. The various types
include.
Abortion, Habitual:
A term referring to a condition where a woman has had three or more
miscarriages.
Abortion,
Incomplete: A miscarriage after which some tissue remains inside the
uterus. A D&C must be performed to remove the tissue and prevent
complications.
Abortion, Missed:
A
miscarriage where the fetus dies in the uterus but there is no
bleeding or cramping. A D&C will be needed to remove the fetal remains
and prevent complications.
Abortion:
Spontaneous: A pregnancy loss during the first twenty weeks of
gestation. Habitual: When a woman has had three or more miscarriages.
Incomplete: An abortion after which some tissue remains inside the
uterus. A D&C must be performed to remove the tissue and prevent
complications. Missed: The fetus dies in the uterus but there is no
bleeding or cramping. A D&C will be needed to remove the fetal remains
and prevent complications.
Abortion,
Threatened: Spotting or bleeding that occurs early in the pregnancy.
May progress to spontaneous abortion.
Acid tyrodes
digestion: A form of assisted hatching in which the embryo is
introduced into a chemical solution that partially erodes the zona
(egg covering) in order to promote hatching.
Acrosome: The
protective structure around the head of the sperm. The acrosome
contains enzymes that enable the sperm to penetrate the egg. Acrosome
reaction The second stage of capacitation, when a sperm sheds its
outer membrane to expose receptors that interact with the egg's zona
pellucida to initiate fertilization.
Acrosome reaction:
a chemical change that enables a sperm to penetrate an egg.
Acrosome: the
packet of enzymes in a sperm's head that allows the sperm to dissolve
a hole in the coating around the egg, which allows the sperm to
penetrate and fertilize the egg.
ACTH: A hormone
produced by the pituitary gland to stimulate the adrenal glands.
Excessive levels may lead to fertility problems.
Adenomyosis: A
condition in which the endometrial glands grow into the uterine wall,
creating a sponge like effect; can be associated with poor uterine
linings. This condition is sometimes associated with heavy, painful
periods and uterine enlargement.
Adrenal glands:
Small structures located at the top of each kidney that produce a
number of hormones indispensable to proper growth, development, and a
wide variety of physiologic functions.
Adhesion:
a union
of adjacent organs by scar tissue. It has also been defined as
abnormal attachment of adjacent tissues by bands, scars, masses of
fibrous tissue in the abdominal cavity, fallopian tubes, or inside the
uterus. Adhesions can interfere with transport of the egg and
implantation of the embryo in the uterus.
Adnexum: A normal
tube and ovary as seen at laparoscopy.
Adrenal Glands: the
endocrine gland on top of each kidney. Two glands near the kidneys
that produce hormones, including some male sex hormones (the adrenal
androgens).
Adrenal Androgens:
Male hormones produced by the adrenal gland which, when found in
excess, may lead to fertility problems in both men and women. Excess
androgens in the woman may lead to the formation of male secondary sex
characteristics and the suppression of LH and FSH production by the
pituitary gland. Elevated levels of androgens may be found in women
with polycystic ovaries, or with a tumor in the pituitary gland,
adrenal gland, or ovary. May also be associated with excess prolactin
levels.
Aerobic bacteria:
the bacterial organisms that require relatively high concentrations of
oxygen to survive and reproduce.
AF: See assisted
fertilization.
Agglutination of
Sperm: Sticking together of sperm.
Agglutination:
clumping together, as of sperm, often due to infection, inflammation,
or antibodies.
AID (Artificial
Insemination Donor): See Artificial Insemination Donor. It involves
the use of donor semen or sperm in cases where the woman's partner is
infertile or the woman chooses to conceive without having intercourse
with the sperm provider.
AID (Artificial
Insemination Donor) or AIH (Artificial Insemination
Homologous/Husband): See Artificial Insemination, Donor Insemination,
and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI).
AIDS:
A sexually
transmitted disease caused by one or a variety of viruses that are
harbored in the nuclei of cells and attack the immune system. Infected
individuals become highly susceptible to opportunistic infections;
AIDS ultimately leads to death.
AIH (Artificial
Insemination Homologous): See Artificial Insemination Homologous.
Alloimmune factors:
natural killer cells, leukocyte antigen cross match. Alloimmune
factors can lead to pregnancy loss in two different ways. First, the
body fails to recognize a pregnancy, and second, there is an abnormal
immunological response to the pregnancy. A patient may be tested for
leukocyte antibodies, natural killer cells, and embryo toxic factor.
Possible treatments are intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) or paternal
white blood cell immunization. This area of reproductive medicine is
considered controversial.
Alloimmunity:
Immunity that develops against the proteins of another individual of
the same species.
Alpha-fetoprotein
Test (AFP): A blood test performed to evaluate the development of the
fetus and to look for fetal abnormalities. AFP is a chemical in the
blood and amniotic fluid that if found might point toward a neurologic
fetal malformation.
Amenorrhea: The
absence of menstruation for six months or more at a time. Primary
Amenorrhea afflicts a woman who has never menstruated. Secondary
Amenorrhea afflicts a woman who has menstruated at one time, but who
has not had a period for six months or more.
Amenorrhea,
Secondary: A term describing a woman who has menstruated at one time,
but who has not had a period for six months or more.
American Fertility
Society Former name of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
(ASRM): A professional society that primarily includes physicians but
also includes laboratory personnel, psychologists, nurses, and other
paramedical personnel interested in infertility. Formerly known as the
American Fertility Society. It is a professional society whose
affiliate organization, the Society for Assisted Reproductive
Technology (SART), reports annual fertility clinic data to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Amniocentesis:
the
aspiration of amniotic fluid from the uterus usually performed at
three to three and one half months of pregnancy, to test the fetus for
genetic abnormalities.
Ampulla:
The outer
half of the fallopian tube, where fertilization occurs. It opens into
the abdominal cavity through the tubal ostium, which is lined by the
fimbria.
Anaerobic bacteria:
bacterial organisms that survive in relatively low oxygen
concentrations.
Androgens: Male sex
hormones. Testosterone is one example.
Andrologist: a
specialist who treats sperm problems and who performs laboratory
evaluations of male fertility. Andrologists are usually affiliated
with a fertility treatment center working on in vitro fertilization.
Andrology: It is
the science of diseases peculiar to the male sex, particularly
infertility, and sexual dysfunction.
Anomaly: A
malformation or abnormality in any part of the body.
Anorexia Nervosa:
A
life threatening eating disorder; self-imposed starvation. Severe
weight loss and malnutrition from this disorder cause anovulation.
Anovulation: the
absence of ovulation. Note: This is not necessarily the same as
"amenorrhea. " Menses may still rarely occur with anovulation.
Anovulatory
Bleeding: The type of menstruation often associated with failure to
ovulate. May be scanty and of short duration; or abnormally heavy and
irregular.
Antibodies:
a
protective agent produced by the body's immune system in response to a
foreign substance. Chemicals made by the body to fight or attack
foreign substances entering the body. Normally they prevent infection;
however, when they attack the sperm or fetus, they cause infertility.
Either the man or the woman may make sperm antibodies.
Antibodies to
sperm: Substances in the man's or woman's blood and in reproductive
secretions (semen, uterine and tubal secretions, and cervical mucus)
that reduce fertility by causing sperm to stick together, coating
their surface or killing them. Antisperm antibodies attach themselves
to sperm and inhibit movement and their ability to fertilize.
Anticardiolipin
antibody (ACA): an antibody directed against cardiolipin. These are
one of the antiphospholipid groups of antibodies. They are the most
widely accepted and tested for immune factor. Approximately 80% of
patients who have an antiphospholipid antibody problem will test
positive for anticardiolipin antibodies, but the remaining 20% will
test positive for one of the other six antiphospholipid antibodies.
These antibodies can cause a miscarriage or stillbirth and can be
tested for by a blood sample.
Antigen:
any
substance that induces the formation of an antibody.
Antilymphocyte
antibodies (ALA): Antibodies formed to combat the male partner's
lymphocytes and hence against the fetus's lymphocytes.
Antinuclear antibody
(ANA): an antibody showing an affinity for cell nuclei; this antibody
is found in a high proportion of people with lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus), rheumatoid arthritis, and certain collagen diseases,
and in about 1% of normal individuals. If you have systemic lupus
erythematosus, it can be transmitted through the placenta to the baby,
resulting in heart problems.
Antiphospholipid
antibodies (APA): Antibodies to some of the chemical substances that
coat the root system of the placenta as it grows into the uterine
wall. Women with high concentrations of these substances may have a
higher incidence of miscarriages or may fail to conceive after
repeated attempts.
Apoptosis:a
genetically determined destruction of cells from within due to
activation of a stimulus or removal of a suppressing agent or stimulus
that is postulated to exist to explain the orderly elimination of
superfluous cells -- called also programmed cell death
ART (assisted
reproductive technology): All treatments or procedures that involve
the handling of human eggs and sperm for the purpose of helping a
woman become pregnant. Types of ART include in vitro fertilization,
gamete intrafallopian transfer, zygote intrafallopian transfer, embryo
cryopreservation, egg or embryo donation, and surrogate birth. ART
cycle. A process in which 1) an ART procedure is carried out, 2) a
woman has undergone ovarian stimulation or monitoring with the intent
of having an ART procedure, or 3) in the case of frozen embryos,
embryos have been thawed with the intent of transferring them to a
woman. A cycle begins when a woman begins taking fertility drugs or
having her ovaries monitored.
Artificial
Insemination (AI): Placing sperm into the vagina, uterus or fallopian
tubes through artificial means instead of by coitus: usually injected
through a catheter or cannula after being washed. This procedure is
used for both donor (AID) and husband's (AIH) sperm. This technique is
used to overcome sexual performance problems, to circumvent mucus
interaction problems, to maximize the potential for poor semen, and
for using donor sperm. See Intrauterine Insemination.
Artificial
insemination by donor (AID): The most common form of insemination into
the vagina or uterus with donor sperm. A thawed frozen specimen is
injected next to the woman's cervix.
Artificial
Insemination by Husband (AIH): The injection of husband's semen into
the wife's reproductive tract for the purpose of conception. The sperm
may be washed and injected directly into the wife's uterus (IAIH).
Often used with poor semen or to overcome sperm mucus problems.
Artificial
Spermatocele: An artificial, surgically created pouch used to collect
sperm from men with irreversible tubal blockage.
Asherman's
Syndrome: A condition where the uterine walls adhere to one another.
Usually caused by uterine inflammation.
Aspermia: The
absence of semen. This is not the same as azoospermia.
Aspiration:
follicular: suctioning of fluid, as from a follicle.
ASRM:
See American
Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Assisted
fertilization (AF): Methods for promoting successful IVF in cases of
severe male infertility; these approaches require highly sophisticated
technical expertise and equipment. Also known as micromanipulation.
Assisted hatching:
A technique in which the zona pellucida (outer shell of the egg) is
chemically or mechanically thinned prior to embryo transfer in order
to improve the likelihood of subsequent hatching.
Assisted
Reproductive Technology (ART): Several procedures employed to bring
about conception without sexual intercourse, including IUI, IVF, GIFT
and ZIFT. ARTs are procedures involving retrieval of eggs, and the
enhancement of eggs and sperm outside the body. It includes procedures
such as gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), in vitro fertilization
(IVF), and zygote intrafallopian transfer/tubal embryo transfer (ZIFT/TET).
Asthenospermia: A
condition in which the sperm do not move (swim) at all or move more
slowly than normal.
Asthenozoospermia:
Low sperm motility.
Asymptomatic:
without any symptoms.
Augmented
laparoscopy: A procedure in which eggs are retrieved from the woman's
ovaries while diagnostic laparoscopy is being performed to evaluate
the integrity of her pelvic organs. These eggs are subsequently
fertilized in vitro, and the embryos are transferred into the woman's
uterus two or three days later. This procedure affords a woman
undergoing routine diagnostic laparoscopy a chance to determine the
cause of her infertility and an opportunity to conceive by IVF at the
same time.
Autoantibodies:
Antibodies that are formed against the proteins of the
individual's own body. Antibodies formed against one's own tissues.
Autoimmune disease:
the process in which the body's defense system acts against its own
tissues, causing damage.
Autoimmunity: an
immune reaction against one's own tissues.
Azoospermia: The
absence of sperm in the ejaculate. Azoospermia occurs either because
the testicles cannot make sperm or because of blockage in the
reproductive tract.
Bacteria:
microscopic, single celled organisms that can cause infections of the
genital tract.
BacterialVaginosisInfection: A vaginal infection that causes a burning sensation and a
gray, malodorous discharge. May interfere with fertility.
Balanced translocation:
A condition where some there is excess genetic material in one
chromosome. This excess material belongs to another chromosome which
is as a result shorter. Thus there is translocation of genetic
material but this does not manifest clinically as the total is normal.
However, in the offspring of such an individual, only one of these
chromosomes may be inherited resulting in excess or deficiency of that
particular genetic material (unbalanced translocation).
Basal body
temperature (BBT): body temperature when taken at its lowest point,
usually in the morning before getting out of bed. Charting BBT is used
to predict ovulation. Daily body temperature chart provides a rough
idea of when ovulation occurred. This is possible because body
temperature rises when the corpus luteum produces progesterone (after
ovulation) and drops at or just before the beginning of menstruation,
when estrogen and progesterone levels fall (see also biphasic pattern
of temperature on BBT chart).
Basal Body
Temperature, Biphasic: A basal body temperature pattern consistent
with ovulation and the formation of the corpus luteum, which secretes
progesterone. This hormone will elevate the basal body temperature
about one half degree during the latter half of the menstrual cycle.
Basal Body
Temperature, Monophasic: An anovulatory basal body temperature pattern
where the temperature remains relatively constant throughout the
cycle.
BBT chart:
See
basal body temperature chart.
Beta HCG Test: A
blood test used to detect very early pregnancies and to evaluate
embryonic development.
Bicornuate Uterus:
A congenital malformation of the uterus in which it appears to have
two "horns " (cornu).
Billings Method of
contraception: It is a method of predicting ovulation in which the
woman examines the quality and quantity of her cervical mucus
secretions. This method can be used to help the woman determine her
most fertile period for the purpose of conceiving or for
contraception. Biphasic pattern of temperature on BBT chart Charting
pattern that occurs because the woman's temperature is likely to be
lower during the first phase of her menstrual cycle than during the
second half, when the progesterone produced by the corpus luteum
raises her temperature slightly (see also basal body temperature
chart).
Biopsy: a fragment
of tissue removed for study under the microscope.
Bladder: It is the
anatomical reservoir that receives urine produced by the kidneys.
Blastocyst: An
advanced stage of embryo development during which a cavity develops
within the young embryo.
Blastomere:
Cell
within the developing embryo. Each blastomere is capable of developing
into an identical embryo until the embryo reaches about the 30-cell
stage, after which the cells begin to differentiate into specific
tissues.
Blood hormone test
LH: When this test is performed several times daily around the
presumed time of ovulation, the detection of a rapidly rising blood LH
(luteinizing hormone) concentration can accurately determine the time
of probable ovulation. This test, which requires blood to be drawn
several times and is therefore painful, time consuming, and expensive,
has been virtually supplanted by serial urine LH testing (see also
urine ovulation test).
Blood hormone test
progesterone: Measuring of the concentration of progesterone in the
woman's blood during the second half of the menstrual cycle about one
week prior to anticipated menstruation; indicates whether or not she
is likely to have ovulated because progesterone is usually produced
only by the corpus luteum, which develops after ovulation.
Blood testis
barrier: the barrier that separates sperm from the bloodstream.
Bromocriptine (Parlodel):
An oral medication used to reduce the release of the pituitary hormone prolactin and to reduce the size of a pituitary tumor when present.
This medication often causes dizziness and upset stomach and must be
started with a small dose, which is gradually increased as needed.
This medication is equally effective when the tablet is placed into
the vagina.
Bulimia: An eating
disorder characterized by voracious eating followed by forced
vomiting. The resulting weight loss and malnutrition may cause anovulation.
Buserelin:
A long
acting GNRH available in Europe as a nasal spray and used to create
the pseudomenopause desirable for reducing the size and number of
endometriotic lesions. It can also be used to treat fibroid tumors,
PMS, hirsutism, ovulation induction and for in vitro fertilization.
Canceled cycle: It
is an ART cycle in which ovarian stimulation was carried out but which
was stopped before eggs were retrieved, or in the case of frozen
embryo cycles, before embryos were transferred.
Candidiasis
(yeast): An infection that may be uncomfortable and itchy and may
impair fertility.
Cannula: a hollow
tube used, for example, to inseminate sperm artificially.
Capacitation:
enables the sperm to penetrate the egg. During this process sperm are
altered, acquiring the capacity to bind to the zona pellucida, undergo
the acrosome reaction, and penetrate and fertilize the ovum. The
processes by which sperm are prepared for fertilization as they pass
through the woman's reproductive tract (in vivo capacitation); sperm
may also be capacitated in the laboratory (in vitro capacitation).
Cervical canal: It
is the connection between the outer cervical opening and the uterine
cavity.
Catheter: a
flexible tube used for aspirating or injecting fluids.
Cauterize:
to
destroy tissue with heat, cold, or caustic substances usually to seal
off blood vessels or ducts. It is to burn tissue with electrical
current (electrocautery) or with a laser. Used in surgical procedures
to remove unwanted tissue such as adhesions and endometrial implants.
Also used to control bleeding.
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC): A government agency within the Department
of Health and Human Services responsible for publishing annual U.S
fertility clinic success rates.
Cervical mucus:
Mucus produced by glands in the cervical canal; it plays an important
role in transporting sperm into the uterus and in initiating capacitation.
Cervical mucus
insufficiency: A condition in which the ability of the cervical mucus
to initiate the capacitation process is compromised through a
deficiency in the amount of mucus produced, an abnormality in the
physical chemical components of the mucus, the presence of infection,
an abnormal hormonal environment, or the secretion of antibodies to
sperm in the mucus. Cervical mucus insufficiency is responsible for
about 10 percent of all cases of infertility. Most of the time the
cervical mucus is thick plugging the cervical os and preventing sperm
and bacteria from entering the womb. However, at midcycle, under the
influence of estrogen, the mucus becomes thin, watery, and stringy to
allow sperm to pass into the womb. See also Cervix.
Cervical Smear: A
sample of the cervical mucus examined microscopically to assess the
presence of estrogen (ferning) and white blood cells, indicating
possible infection.
Cervical Stenosis:
A blockage of the cervical canal from a congenital defect or from
complications of surgical procedures. See also Cervix.
Cervicitis:
inflammation of the cervix.
Cervix: Lowermost
part of the uterus, which protrudes like a bottleneck into the upper
vagina; the cervix opens into the uterus through the narrow cervical
canal.
Cervix,
Incompetent: A weakened cervix which opens prematurely during
pregnancy and can cause the loss of the fetus. A cervical cerclage is
a procedure in which a stitch or two is put around the cervix to
prevent its opening until removed when the pregnancy is to term.
Chemical
Pregnancy
Biochemical: evidence of a possible developing pregnancy based on a
positive blood or urine pregnancy test; at this point, pregnancy is
presumptive until confirmed by ultrasound (see also clinical
pregnancy).
Child Free Living:
A resolution to infertility in which the couple opts for a life style
without parenting, either temporarily or permanently.
Chlamydia:
Pathogen
responsible for a sexually transmitted infection that may damage the
fallopian tubes and/or the male reproductive ducts, thereby causing
infertility. Pathogen transmitted between partners or from an infected
mother to her newborn child; the most common sexually transmitted
disease.
Chocolate Cyst:
A
cyst in the ovary that is filled with old blood; endometrioma.
Occurring when endometriosis invades an ovary, it causes the ovary to
swell. Frequently, patients with large endometriomas do not have any
symptoms. If the cyst ruptures or the ovary containing the cyst
twists, emergency surgery may be necessary. Usually treatment can be
carried out through the laparoscope.
Chorionic villus
sampling (CVS): taking a biopsy of the placenta, usually at the end of
the second month of pregnancy, to test the fetus for genetic
abnormalities.
Chromosome: threads
of DNA in a cell's nucleus that transmit hereditary information. They
are the structures in the cell that carry the genetic material (genes)
the genetic messengers of inheritance. The human has forty-six
chromosomes, twenty-three coming from the egg and twenty-three coming
from the sperm.
Cilia: Microscopic
hair likes projections from the surface of a cell capable of beating
in a coordinated fashion. They pertain to cells in the lining, the
inside surface of the fallopian tubes. The waving action of these
"hairs" sweeps the egg toward the uterus.
Classic
surrogacy:
It is the use of a third party to conceive and carry a baby to term.
In this form of surrogacy, the baby would bear the genetic imprint of
the surrogate and of the sperm provider.
Cleavage: The
process of cell division.
Clexane:
It is an anti-clotting or anticoagulant medicine, and works by
interfering with the body's natural blood clotting mechanism.
Enoxaparin inactivates a compound in this pathway called thrombin,
which plays an important role in blood clot formation. Blood clots
within the body can be dangerous as they can travel in the blood
vessels and potentially block off blood supply to the heart, lungs or
brain. This can occur in various conditions where the normal blood
circulation is disturbed. Surgery, particularly abdominal surgery,
produces a risk of thrombosis, as does a heart attack and poorly
controlled angina (unstable angina). In addition, enoxaparin is used
to prevent blood clotting when it is filtered through a kidney
dialysis machine.
Climacteric: The
hormonal change that precedes the menopause by a number of years and
is associated with a progressive loss of fertility, an increased
incidence of abnormal or absent ovulation, hot flashes, irregular
menstruation, a progressive rise in blood FSH levels, and mood
changes. The climacteric usually represents an important stage in a
woman's life.
Clinical pregnancy:
A pregnancy that has been confirmed by ultrasonic examination or
through pathologic assessment of a surgical specimen obtained either
from a miscarriage or from an ectopic pregnancy. A clinical pregnancy
should be distinguished from a chemical pregnancy, which through a
positive blood pregnancy test merely suggests the possibility that a
pregnancy has occurred.
Clitoris: The small
structure at the junction of the labia minora in front of the vulva.
The clitoris, which is analogous to the penis in the male, undergoes
erection during erotic stimulation and plays an important role in
orgasm. It is also defined as a small erectile sex organ of the
female, which contains large numbers of sensory nerves, the female
counterpart of the penis.
Clomiphene Citrate:
A synthetic drug used to stimulate the hypothalamus and pituitary
gland to increase FSH and LH production. It is usually used to treat
ovulatory failure due to hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction. A
synthetic drug used to stimulate the hypothalamus and pituitary gland
to increase FSH and LH production. It is usually used to treat
ovulatory failure due to hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction.
Coitus:
Intercourse; the sexual union between a man and a woman.
COH:
See controlled
ovarian hyperstimulation.
Coitus:
Intercourse; the sexual union between a man and a woman, or sexual
intercourse.
Colposcopy:
examination of the cervix through a magnifying telescope to detect
abnormal cells.
Complete abortion:
A miscarriage in which all of the products of conception have been
expelled and the cervix is closed.
Conception: It is
the creation of a zygote by the fertilization of an egg by a sperm
(see fertilization).
Conceptus:
A term
used to describe the developing implanted embryo and/or early fetus.
Condom Therapy:
Therapy prescribed to reduce the number of sperm antibodies in the
woman by using a condom during intercourse for six months or more and
by the woman refraining from all skin contact with the husband's
sperm. The woman's antibody level may fall to levels that will not
adversely affect the sperm.
Cone Biopsy: A
surgical procedure used to remove precancerous cells from the cervix.
The procedure may damage the cervix and thus disrupt normal mucus
production or cause an incompetent cervix, which may open prematurely
during pregnancy.
Congenital Adrenal
Hyperplasia: A congenital condition characterized by elevated
androgens, which suppress the pituitary gland and interfere with
spermatogenesis or ovulation. Women may have ambiguous genitalia from
the excess production of male hormone.
Congenital defect:
a birth defect.
Congenital:
A
characteristic or defect present at birth. It is acquired during
pregnancy but is not necessarily hereditary.
Conization:
surgical removal of a cone shaped portion of the cervix, usually as a
treatment for a precancerous condition.
Contraception: The
use of a method, medication, or device that will prevent pregnancy,
such as condom, oral contraceptives, diaphragms, natural family
planning, IUDs, spermicides, and sponges.
Contraceptive,
Oral: A medication that prevents ovulation and pregnancy. Up to 3
percent of women taking the Pill will become anovulatory when they
stop taking it. The regulatory effects of the Pill can also disguise
symptoms of fertility problems, for example, an irregular cycle or
endometriosis. May be used to control the symptoms and development of
endometriosis.
Contraindication:
a
reason not to use a particular drug or treatment.
Controlled ovarian
hyperstimulation (COH): In response to the administration of fertility
drugs, the maturation of several follicles simultaneously, which
results in the production of an exaggerated hormonal response.
Cordocentesis:
Transabdominal blood sampling of the fetal umbilical cord, performed
under ultrasound guidance. Used to test for certain abnormalities.
Corona radiata:
See
cumulus granulosa.
Corpus Luteum: The
special gland that forms in the ovary at the site of the released egg.
This gland produces the hormone progesterone during the second half of
the normal menstrual cycle responsible for preparing and supporting
the uterine lining for implantation. Progesterone also causes one half
degree basal temperature elevation noted at midcycle during an
ovulatory cycle. If the corpus luteum functions poorly, the uterine
lining may not support a pregnancy. If the egg is fertilized, a corpus
luteum of pregnancy forms to maintain the endometrial bed and support
the implanted embryo. A deficiency in the amount of progesterone
produced (or the length of time it is produced) by the corpus luteum
can mean the endometrium is unable to sustain a pregnancy. This is
called Luteal Phase Defect (LPD).
Count (or Density):
Refers to the number of cells present (i.e., sperm).
Cryobank:
A place
where either cells or tissues (i. e., sperm, oocytes, embryos) are
stored in the frozen state.
Cryocautery:
cautery by freezing.
Cryopreservation
(Freezing): A procedure used to preserve (by freezing) and store
embryos or gametes (sperm, oocytes). The process of freezing (in
liquid nitrogen) and storing eggs, sperm, and embryos for future use cul De sac area of the woman's abdominal cavity behind the lower part
of the uterus.
Cryopreservation
and embryo cryopreservation: In this report, cryopreserved embryos are
referred to as frozen embryos.
Cryptorchidism:
failure of one or both testicles to descend into the scrotum.
Cul de sac: pouch
located at the bottom of the abdominal cavity between the uterus and
rectum.
Culdoscopy:
examination of the internal female pelvic organs through an incision
in the vagina.
Cumulative
birthrate: The overall chance of a woman having one or more babies per
egg retrieval or per embryo transfer following several attempts.
Cumulus granulose:
The group of ovarian cells resembling a sunburst that surround the zona pellucida of the human egg; also called the corona radiata. These
cells nurture the egg while in the fallopian tube.
Cumulus Oophorus:
The protective layer of cells surrounding the egg.
Cushing's Syndrome:
A condition characterized by an overproduction of adrenal gland
secretions. The person will suffer from high blood pressure and water
retention as well as a number of other symptoms. A concurrent
elevation of adrenal androgens will suppress pituitary output of LH
and FSH and result in low sperm production or ovulatory failure. A
woman may also develop male secondary sex characteristics, including
abnormal hair growth. Cushing's Disease is another condition in which
these same symptoms occur, but as the result of a pituitary tumor.
Cyst:
a sac filled
with fluid.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV):
a group of viruses that cause enlargement of cells of various organs.
Infection in a baby in utero can cause jaundice, high-tone deafness,
eye problems, malformation, or fetal death.
Cytokines: any of various proteins, secreted by cells, that carry
signals to neighboring cells
and is important in controlling implantation. Interleukins and
interferons are
cytokines.
D&C (Dilation and
Curettage): A procedure used to dilate the cervical canal and scrape
out the lining and contents of the uterus. The procedure can be used
to diagnose or treat the cause of abnormal bleeding and to terminate
an unwanted pregnancy.
Danazol (danocrine):
A synthetic androgen frequently prescribed for endometriosis.
Suppresses LH and FSH production by the pituitary and causes a state
of amenorrhea during which the endometrial implants waste away. Many
women experience oily skin, acne, weight gain, abnormal hair growth,
deepening of the voice and muscle cramps with this medication.
De Miranda
Institute: A consumer protection agency for infertile couples.
Delayed
Ejaculation: A condition in which the man fakes orgasm and does not
actually ejaculate when having sex.
Delayed Puberty:
A
condition in which the youngster fails to complete puberty and develop
secondary sex characteristics by sixteen years of age. Puberty may be
stimulated with hormonal replacement therapy. Some will outgrow the
condition without treatment.
Deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA): the combination of amino acids in the cell's nucleus that
make up the chromosomes, which transmit hereditary characteristics.
DES
(Diethylstilbestrol): A medication prescribed in the 1950s and 1960s
to women to prevent miscarriage. Male and female fetuses exposed in-utero
to this drug developed numerous deformities including blockage of the
vas deferens, uterine abnormalities, cervical deformities,
miscarriages, and unexplained infertility. DES is no longer prescribed
for this indication.
DHEAS (Dehydroepiandrosterone
Sulfate): An androgen produced primarily by the adrenal gland. A
high level suggests too much adrenal androgen output. See "Adrenal
Androgens."
Diagnostic
hysteroscopy: A procedure usually performed under local or general
anesthesia in the office setting or in the operating room. A thin
telescope like instrument is inserted via the vagina and cervix into
the uterine cavity. Carbon dioxide gas or a liquid is injected to
distend the cavity and allow direct visualization of its structure.
Diagnostic IVF:
The
performance of in vitro fertilization for the purpose of assessing the
ability for fertilization to take place. It is an objective test of
sperm/egg fertilization potential, although impractical.
Diethylstilbestrol
(DES): a synthetic, nonsteroidal estrogenic compound. Currently, it is
sometimes used after sex to prevent implantation of the fertilized
egg. Women whose mothers took DES during pregnancy (at a time when it
was wrongly thought to prevent threatened miscarriage) can pass it
along to their unborn children, causing stillbirth or birth defects.
The US FDA banned this in 1971 for use in pregnant women.
Dilatation and
Curettage (D & C): Dilatation of the cervix to allow scraping of the
uterine lining with an instrument (curette). This is also a means to
induce abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Donor Insemination:
Artificial insemination with donor sperm. See Artificial Insemination.
Donor embryo:
An
embryo formed from the egg of a woman who has donated it for transfer
to a woman who is unable to conceive with her own eggs (the
recipient). The donor relinquishes all parental rights to any
resulting offspring.
Donor Oocytes:
Eggs
donated for patients who have lost their ovaries, have premature
ovarian failure or advanced maternal age to help achieve pregnancy.
Doxycycline: A
tetracycline derivative; an antibiotic that inhibits many of the
microorganisms infecting the reproductive tract. Often used for
treating Ureaplasma infections. Many physicians find routine treatment
with this antibiotic more cost effective than performing multiple
cultures on both the husband and wife looking for infection.
Dysgenesis:
Faulty
formation of any organ.
Dysmenorrhea:
Painful menstruation. This may be a sign of endometriosis.
Dyspareunia:
Painful intercourse for either the woman or the man.
Ectopic Pregnancy:
A pregnancy that occurs when the embryo implants in a location other
than the uterus; the most likely site for such implantation is the
fallopian tube (in which case the term ectopic pregnancy is used
synonymously with tubal pregnancy). If undetected, an ectopic
pregnancy may rupture and cause life threatening internal bleeding.
Ectopic pregnancies require surgical intervention, unless a folic acid
antagonist (i.e., Methotrexate)
is used in non-complicates cases. Methotrexate is now used to dissolve
the pregnancy without causing major damage to the tube.
Egg:
The female
gamete, which develops in the ovary; also known as an ovum or oocyte.
An egg is the largest cell in the human body.
Egg retrieval:
The
retrieval of eggs from the ovarian follicles prior to ovulation; the
eggs are sucked out of the follicles through a needle either during
ultrasound guidance or laparoscopy.
Egg (Oocyte)
Donation: donation of an egg by one woman to another who attempts to
become pregnant by in vitro fertilization. More technically Egg
Donation can be defined as the surgical removal of eggs from one woman
for transfer into the fallopian tube or uterus of another woman.
Egg retrieval (also
called oocyte retrieval): A procedure to collect the eggs contained in
the ovarian follicles.
Egg transfer (also
called oocyte transfer): The transfer of retrieved eggs into a woman's
fallopian tubes through laparoscopy (see definition). This procedure
is used only in gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) (see
definition).
Egg: A female
reproductive cell, also called an oocyte or ovum.
Egg (ovum): The
female reproductive cell.
Ejaculate: The
semen and sperm expelled during ejaculation, or the sperm containing
fluid released at orgasm.
Ejaculation: The
physiological process by which the semen is propelled from the
testicles, through the reproductive tract, and out the opening of the
penis. It is the emission of approximately two to five ml of semen
(seminal fluid and sperm) through the urethra and penis that follows
erotic stimulation and accompanies male orgasm.
Ejaculatory ducts:
the male ducts that contract with orgasm to cause ejaculation.
Electrocautery:
cauterization using electrical current.
Electroejaculation:
controlled electrical stimulation to induce ejaculation in a man with
damage to the nerves that control ejaculation.
Embryo adoption:
This occurs when a woman receives into her uterus an embryo to which
neither she nor her partner has contributed a gamete.
Embryo
co-culturing: The addition of cells derived from the growth of other
tissue (from the lining of human or bovine fallopian tubes, or human
follicular lining) to the culture medium in which the zygote is being
nurtured in the laboratory. This is thought to enhance growth and
promote the development of healthier embryos.
Embryo
Cryopreservation: Cryopreservation involves slowly freezing embryos to
store them for future use. This process involves a liquid nitrogen
freezer and the use of cellular antifreezes. The embryos are stored
and submersed in liquid nitrogen until they are thawed and placed into
the uterus. There is approximately a 67 percent survival rate for
embryos in cryopreservation. After the thaw, embryos retaining 50
percent or more of the cells they had before freezing are cultured and
placed back into the uterus exactly like step four in IVF.
Embryo:
The term
for a fertilized egg from the time of initial cell division through
the first six to eight weeks of gestation. Thereafter, the embryo
begins to differentiate and take on a human organic form; at this
point it is traditionally referred to as a fetus.
Embryo Transfer:
Placing an egg fertilized outside the womb into a woman's uterus or
fallopian tube. Placement of embryos into a woman's uterus through the
cervix after in vitro fertilization (IVF) or in the case of zygote
intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) (see definition), into her fallopian
tube. It is the introduction of an embryo into a woman's uterus after
in vitro (or in vivo) fertilization.
Embryo: The term
used to describe the early stages of fetal growth, from conception to
the eighth week of pregnancy. It can also be defined as the egg that
has been fertilized by a sperm and undergone one or more divisions. It
can also be defined as the developing baby from implantation to the
second month of pregnancy. It can also be defined as the early
products of conception; the undifferentiated beginnings of a baby; the conceptus.
Embryologist:
a
specialist in embryo development.
Empty Sella
Syndrome: A condition that occurs when spinal fluid leaks into the
bony chamber (fossa) housing the pituitary gland. The fluid pressure
compresses the pituitary gland and may adversely affect its ability to
secrete LH and FSH and may elevate prolactin levels.
Endocrine System:
The system of glands including the pituitary, thyroid, adrenals,
testicles or ovaries.
Endocrine gland: an
organ that produces hormones.
Endocrinologist: A
doctor who specializes in diseases of the endocrine glands.
Endometrial Biopsy:
The extraction of a small sample of tissue from the uterus for
examination. Usually done to show evidence of ovulation. It can also
be defined as a test to check for Luteal Phase Defect. It can also be
defined as a procedure during which a sample of the uterine lining is
collected for microscopic analysis. The biopsy results will confirm
ovulation and the proper preparation of the endometrium by estrogen
and progesterone stimulation.
Endometrioma: a
special type of ovarian cyst that is chocolate in color and contains
endometrial cells that grows and bleeds during menstruation.
Endometriosis: A
condition in which the endometrium grows outside the uterus, causing
scarring, pain, and heavy bleeding, and often damaging the fallopian
tubes and ovaries in the process. Endometriosis is a common organic
cause of infertility. It can also be defined as a condition where
endometrial tissue is located outside the womb. The tissue may attach
itself to the reproductive organs or to other organs in the abdominal
cavity. Each month the endometrial tissue inbreeds with the onset of
menses. The resultant irritation causes adhesions in the abdominal
cavity and in the fallopian tubes. Endometriosis may also interfere
with ovulation and with the implantation of the embryo.
Endometritis:
inflammation of the endometrium.
Endometrium:
The
mucous membrane lining the uterus. It can also be defined as the
lining of the uterus, which grows during the menstrual cycle under the
influence of estrogen and progesterone. The endometrium grows in
anticipation of nurturing an implanting embryo in the event of a
pregnancy; it sloughs off in the form of menstruation if implantation
does not occur. The lining of the uterus, which grows and sheds in
response to estrogen and progesterone stimulation; the bed of tissue
designed to nourish the implanted embryo.
Endorphins: They
are natural narcotics manufactured in the brain to reduce sensitivity
to pain and stress. May contribute to stress-related fertility
problems.
Endosalpinx:
The
tissue lining in the fallopian tube.
Epididymis: Tubular
reservoir that contains and transfers sperm to the vas deferens and
subsequently through the urethra and penis at the time of ejaculation.
A coiled, tubular organ attached to and lying on the testicle. Within
this organ the developing sperm complete their maturation and develop
their powerful swimming capabilities. The matured sperm leave the epididymis through the vas deferens. It can also be defined as an
elongated organ in the male lying above and behind the testicles. It
contains a highly convoluted canal, four to six meters in length,
where, after production, sperm are stored, nourished and ripened for a
period of several months.
Epididymitis:
inflammation of the epididymis.
Erection:
The
enlarged, rigid state of the penis when sexually aroused. It can also
be defined as the process during which the erectile tissue of the
penis becomes engorged with blood, causing the penis to swell and
become rigid.
Erythema:more
or less diffuse redness of the skin due to concentration of an
abnormally large amount of blood within the small vessels of the skin
(hyperemia), as in burns.
Erythema
nodosum: is often associated with systemic diseases such as
tuberculosis and rheumatic fever. Tender, bright red, slightly
elevated nodules develop along the shins.
Erythema multiforme: can have a
number of causes, including viral and bacterial infection, chronic
disease of the visceral organs, or allergic reactions to drugs
Estradiol (E2):
A female hormone produced by ovarian follicles. The concentration of
estrogen in the woman's blood is often measured to determine the
degree of her response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with
fertility drugs. In general, the higher the estradiol response, the
more follicles are likely to be developing and, accordingly, the more
eggs are likely to be retrieved. A hormone released by developing
follicles in the ovary. Plasma estradiol levels are used to help
determine progressive growth of the follicle during ovulation
induction. E2 is responsible for formation of the female secondary sex
characteristics such as large breasts; supports the growth of the
follicle and the development of the uterine lining. At midcycle the
peak estrogen level triggers the release of 4he LH spike from the
pituitary gland. The LH spike is necessary for the release of the ovum
from the follicle. Fat cells in both obese men and women can also
manufacture estrogen from androgens and interfere with fertility.
Estradiol Valerate:
A preparation of natural estradiol taken orally or by injection.
Estrogen:
Female
sex hormone. It is a class of female hormones, produced mainly by the
ovaries from the onset of puberty until menopause, which are also
responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics in
women. It can also be defined as a primary female sex hormone,
produced by the ovaries, placenta, and adrenal glands.
Expectant Therapy
(Endometriosis): A wait and see approach used after laparoscopic
surgery for mild endometriosis.
Extracorporeal
fertilization: Synonym for in vitro fertilization.
Fallopian Tubes:
Ducts through which eggs travel to the uterus once released from the
follicle. Sperm normally meet the egg in the fallopian tube, the site
at which fertilization usually occurs. A pair of narrow tubes that
carry the ovum (egg) from the ovary to the body of the uterus. They
are ducts that pick up the egg from the ovary; where a sperm normally
meets the egg to fertilize it.
Falloposcope: A
telescope like instrument that is introduced into the fallopian tubes
for diagnostic purposes during falloposcopy.
Falloposcopy:
A
procedure performed at the time of laparoscopy or hysteroscopy, in
which a thin telescope like instrument is introduced into the
fallopian tube to evaluate its condition.
Fecundability:
the ability to become pregnant.
Female Kallman's
Syndrome: A condition characterized by infantile sexual development
and an inability to smell. Since the pituitary cannot produce LH and
FSH, the woman must take hormone supplements to achieve puberty, to
maintain secondary sex characteristics, and to achieve fertility.
Ferning: A pattern
characteristic of dried cervical mucus viewed on a slide. When the
fern pattern appears, the mucus has been thinned and prepared by
estrogen for the passage of sperm. If it does not fern, the mucus will
be hostile to the passage of the sperm.
Fertile Eunuch: A
rare disorder characterized by an LH deficiency leading to low
testosterone levels and poor sperm production. Male secondary sex
characteristics will be incomplete and sex drive will be low.
Fertility
Specialist: A physician specializing in the practice of fertility. The
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology certifies a subspecialty
for OB GYNs who receive extra training in endocrinology (the study of
hormones) and infertility.
Fertility
Treatment: Any method or procedure used to enhance fertility or
increase the likelihood of pregnancy, such as ovulation induction
treatment, Varicocele repair, and microsurgery to repair damaged
fallopian tubes. The goal of fertility treatment is to help couples
have a child.
Fertility Workup:
The initial medical examinations and tests performed to diagnose or
narrow down the cause of fertility problems.
Fertilization: The
fusion of the sperm and egg to form a zygote (see also zygote,
conception). It is the penetration of the egg by the sperm and the
resulting combining of genetic material that develops into an embryo.
It is the combining of the genetic material carried by sperm and egg
to create an embryo. Normally occurs inside the fallopian tube (in
vivo) but may also occur in a petri dish (in vitro). See also In Vitro
Fertilization. It is the union of the male gamete (sperm) with the
female gamete (egg).
Fetal Death: The
term often used to include both miscarriage and stillbirth.
Fetus: A term used
to refer to a baby during the period of gestation between eight weeks
and term.
Fibroid (Myoma or
Leiomyoma): A benign tumor of the uterine muscle and connective
tissue. It is a benign tumor of fibrous tissue that may occur in the
uterine wall. May be totally without symptoms or may cause abnormal
menstrual patterns or infertility.
Fibroid tumors (myomas):
Nonmalignant growths within the wall of the uterus that may expand
during pregnancy. They are most common in women over 35 years of age.
Occasionally, these cause problems, increasing slightly the risk of ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, placenta previa, abruptio placenta,
premature labor, premature rupture of the membranes, stalled labor,
fetal malformation, and breech and other more difficult to deliver
fetal positions.
Fimbria: The
opening of the fallopian tube near the ovary. When stimulated by the
follicular fluid released during ovulation, the fingerlike ends grasp
the ovary and coax the egg into the tube. They are finger like
projections at the end of the fallopian tube nearest the ovary. When
stimulated by the follicular fluid released during ovulation, the
fingerlike ends grasp the ovary and coax the egg into the tube.
FISH test:
fluorescence in situ hybridization test. It is a method of chromosome
evaluation done with amniotic fluid. The results are usually available
in about 3 days and can show evidence of disorders such as trisomy.
Fluoroscope: an
imaging device that uses X rays to view internal body structures on a
screen.
Follicle
Stimulating Hormone (FSH): Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH): A
pituitary hormone that stimulates spermatogenesis and follicular
development. In the man FSH stimulates the Sertoli cells in the
testicles and supports sperm production. In the woman FSH stimulates
the growth of the ovarian follicle. Elevated FSH levels are indicative
of gonadal failure in both men and woman. It is the pituitary hormone
that stimulates follicle growth in women and sperm formation in men.
Follicle: A
structure in the ovaries that contains a developing egg. It is a fluid
filled sac in the ovary that releases an egg at ovulation. Each month
an egg develops inside the ovary in a fluid filled pocket called a
follicle. This follicle is one inch in size and is about ready to
ovulate.
Follicular Phase:
The first half of the menstrual cycle when follicle development takes
place in the ovary.
Follicular Fluid:
The fluid inside the follicle that cushions and nourishes the ovum.
When released during ovulation, the fluid stimulates the fimbria to
grasp the ovary and coax the egg into the fallopian tube.
Follicular phase of
the menstrual cycle: See proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle.
It is the first half of the menstrual cycle when follicle development
takes place in the ovary. It is the pre-ovulatory phase of a woman's
cycle during which the follicle grows and high estrogen levels cause
the uterine lining to proliferate.
Fornix (Pl.
fornices): Deep recesses in the upper vagina created by the protrusion
of the cervix into the roof of the vagina.
Fresh, eggs, sperm,
or embryos: They are eggs, sperm, or embryos that have not been
frozen. However, fresh embryos may have been conceived using fresh or
frozen sperm.
Frigidity: The
inability to become sexually aroused. Not a known cause of
infertility.
Fructose: produced
by the seminal vesicles, the sugar that sperm use for energy.
Galactorrhea: A
clear or milky discharge from the breasts associated with elevated prolactin.
Gamete
Intra-Fallopian Transfer (GIFT): Procedure in which the sperm and eggs
are transferred by laparoscopy into the fallopian tubes where
fertilization may then take place. It is a technique that may be used
in lieu of in vitro fertilization for women with patent tubes. After
egg retrieval the eggs are mixed with the husband's sperm and then
injected through the fimbria into the woman's fallopian tubes for in
vivo fertilization.
Gamete
micromanipulation: A special procedure performed on eggs to promote in
vitro fertilization in cases where there is severe sperm dysfunction.
Gardnerella: a
bacterium that may cause a vaginal infection.
Gastrulation: The
stage of embryonic development in which blastomeres are dedicated to
the development of specific organs and structures.
Gender Selection:
Gender selection is a method by which X and Y sperm can be separated
through filtering processes. This sperm sample is used for
insemination when ovulation is anticipated. In most cases couples
participating in gender preselection have a baby of their chosen
gender.
Gene: the unit of
heredity, composed of DNA; the building block of chromosomes. It is
pair base that conveys hereditary characteristics, consisting
primarily of DNA and proteins and occurring at specific points on the
chromosomes.
Genetic
Abnormality: A disorder arising from an anomaly in the chromosomal
structure which may or may not be hereditary.
Genetic Counseling:
Advice and information provided, usually by a team of experts, on the
detection and risk of recurrence of genetic disorders.
Genetic: Pertaining
to hereditary characteristics.
Genitals: The
external sex organs, as the labia and clitoris in the woman and the
penis and testicles in the man. Also called genitalia.
Germ Cell Aplasia (Sertoli
Cell Only): An inherited condition in which the testicles have no germ
cells. Since men with this condition have normal Leydig cells, they
will develop secondary sex characteristics. May also be caused by
large and/or prolonged exposure to toxins or radiation.
Germ Cell: In the
male the testicular cell that divides to produce the immature sperm
cells; in the woman the ovarian cell that divides to form the egg
(ovum). The male germ cell remains intact throughout the man's
reproductive life; the woman uses up her germ cells at the rate of
about one thousand per menstrual cycle, although usually only one egg
matures each cycle.
Gestational sac:
the fluid filled sac in which the fetus develops, visible by an
ultrasound exam.
Gestation:
The
period of fetal development in the uterus from conception to birth,
usually considered to be 40 weeks in humans.
Gestational
Carrier: A woman who carries an embryo that was formed from the egg of
another woman; the gestational carrier is expected to return the
infant to its genetic parents.
Gestational
Surrogacy: Gestational Surrogacy involves transferring the couple's
embryo into another woman who carries the pregnancy to term. Utilizing
traditional In Vitro Fertilization techniques, the female partner
undergoes ovarian stimulation and monitoring followed by egg
retrieval. Eggs are taken to the laboratory and fertilized with the
husband or donor's sperm. The resulting fertilized embryo is
transferred to the surrogate. The surrogate is not genetically related
to the resulting child.
GIFT (See gamete
intrafallopian transfer): An ART procedure that involves removing eggs
from a woman's ovary, combining them with sperm, and using a
laparoscope to assist in placing the unfertilized eggs and sperm into
the woman's fallopian tube through small incisions in her abdomen.
GIFT is a relatively
new technique, which has shown promise as a means of therapy for
infertile couples where patency of the fallopian tubes can be
demonstrated (i.e. in unexplained infertility). The oocytes are
retrieved from the follicles as for IVF, but instead of fertilizing
the oocytes in vitro, they are replaced into the fallopian tubes with
a small aliquot of washed spermatozoa using a fine catheter during the
same surgical procedure. As with IVF the risks of multiple pregnancies
suggest that the number of oocytes transferred to the fallopian tubes
should be limited to between two and three oocytes.
Gland:
an organ
that produces and secretes essential body fluids or substances, such
as hormones.
GnRHa (see
Gonadotropin Hormone Releasing Hormone Agonist; GnRHa): GNRH like
hormones that block the body's release of both FSH and LH. Through
blocking LH production, GNRH agonists are capable of improving a
woman's response to fertility drugs and may be used in combination
with fertility hormones to promote an enhanced response in women who
demonstrate resistance to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. In the
United States, GNRH agonists are also known as Lupron, Synarel, and
Nafarelin.
Gonad:
The gland
that makes reproductive cells and "sex" hormones, as the testicles,
which make sperm and testosterone, and the ovaries, which make eggs
(ova) and estrogen.
Gonadotropin
Releasing Hormone (GNRH): A substance secreted by the hypothalamus
every ninety minutes or so. This hormone enables the pituitary to
secrete LH and FSH, which stimulate the gonads. See also FSH, LH.
Gonadotropin:
A
hormone capable of stimulating the gonads to produce hormones and / or
gametes. Hormones, which control reproductive function: Follicle
Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone.
Gonads:
organs that
produce the sex cells and sex hormones; testicles in men and ovaries
in women. They are the glands that make the gametes (the testicles in
the male and the ovaries in the female).
Gonorrhea:
A common
venereal disease that may cause sterility in both men and women. A
sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria Neisseria gonococcus
that can lead to infertility. It is an infection that is usually
asymptomatic, but that may cause a bad smelling yellowish vaginal
discharge and red and swollen vaginal walls. If it reaches the
fallopian tubes, the woman will suffer pain, develop a high fever, and
possibly develop tubal blockage. The responsible organism may also
impair sperm and prevent pregnancy. In the man gonorrhea seldom leads
to damage, but it may cause a painful infection.
Granuloma: a ball
of inflamed tissue, commonly formed after vasectomy due to sperm
leaking from the vas deferens.
Gynecologist: A
doctor who specializes in the diseases of the female reproductive
system.
Habitual Aborter:
When a woman has had three or more miscarriages. Incomplete: An
abortion after which some tissue remains inside the uterus. A D&C must
be performed to remove the tissue and prevent complications.
Habitual abortion:
A miscarriage occurring on two or more separate occasions.
Hamster Test (Sperm
Penetration Assay): used to determine the ability of a man's sperm to
penetrate a hamster egg. Thought to provide evidence of the sperm's
fertilizing ability. A test of the ability of sperm to penetrate a
hamster egg which has been stripped of the Zona Pellucida (outer
membrane). Also called either Hamster Zona Free Ovum (HZFO) or SPERM
PENETRATION ASSAY (SPA).
Hatching:
Opening
of the zona (outer shell of the egg) due to expansion of the volume of
the embryo through repeated cleavage. It occurs a few days after the
embryo arrives or is deposited in the uterus and immediately precedes
implantation (see also ASSISTED HATCHING).
HCG: See human chorionic gonadotropin.
Hemizona assay: a
laboratory test of the ability of sperm to penetrate into a human egg;
first the egg is split in half, then one half is tested against the
husband's sperm and the other half against sperm from a fertile man.
Hemorrhage:
Excessive bleeding.
Heparin:
A drug
that may be added to the solution used to flush eggs out of ovarian
follicles during egg retrieval; its purpose is to prevent blood
clotting within the fluid that harbors the egg.
Hereditary:
Transmitted from one's ancestors by way of the genes within the
chromosomes of the fertilizing sperm and egg.
Herpes: any of several
inflammatory viral diseases of the skin characterized by clusters of
vesicles (blisters). Herpes is an infection that can be harmful to
pregnancy. It is passed on through skin-to-skin contact. Simplex 1 is
usually seen in the form of mouth sores, while simplex 2 includes
sores on the genitalia. Simplex 2 can cause serious health problems or
the death of a baby if the baby is vaginally delivered while the
mother has active herpes on the genitals; therefore, active herpes on
the genitals during labor often requires a Cesarean section. Simplex 1
can cause early health problems; people with mouth sores should
therefore not be allowed to kiss your child. Active herpes can also
delay infertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization.
Hirsutism: The
overabundance of body hair, such as a mustache or pubic hair growing
upward toward the navel, found in women with excess androgens.
Excessive hair growth.
HLA antigens:
The
imprints of the man's immunologic make up.
HMG (See human
menopausal gonadotropin).
Hormonal
insufficiency: A condition resulting in infertility and/or
miscarriage; in the IVF setting, hormonal insufficiency may be
produced by an abnormal response to fertility drugs and may lead to
the failure of an embryo to implant because the amount of hormones
produced and the timing of their production and release were not
perfectly synchronized.
Hormone (sex
hormone): Chemicals produced by the testicles, ovaries, and adrenal
glands that play a major role in reproduction and sexual identity. It
is a chemical, produced by an endocrine gland, which circulates in the
blood and has widespread action throughout the body.
Host Uterus: Also
called a "surrogate gestational mother or carrier: " A couple's embryo
is transferred to another woman who carries the pregnancy to term and
returns the baby to the genetic parents immediately after birth.
Hostile Mucus:
Cervical mucus that impedes the natural progress of sperm through the
cervical canal.
