Useful Fertility Glossary
Adhesion – the abnormal formation of a fibrous tissue between two organs, usually as a result of surgery.
Antibodies – proteins produced by the immune system to destroy something it recognises as foreign. The abnormal presence of antibodies to sperm in a woman's body can prevent sperm from recognising and therefore fertilising an egg.
Androgen – male sex hormone such as testosterone
Artificial insemination – placing sperm into the reproductive tract of a woman.
Azoospermia – the absence of sperm in an ejaculate.
Cervical mucus – mucus produced by the cervix through which sperm must pass to gain access to the uterus and fallopian tubes. The amount and texture of the mucus changes at the time of ovulation.
Cervix – opening of the uterus. It is found between the body of the uterus and the vagina.
Chromosome – package of highly-coiled DNA in a cell, usually shaped like an X. There are 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) in most body cells but just one from each of the 23 pairs exist in healthy eggs and sperm.
Conception – when a sperm fertilises an egg to from an embryo.
Cystic fibrosis – a genetically inherited disease that affects the lungs and gut.
Down Syndrome – a condition where an individual has an extra copy of chromosome 21 resulting in mental retardation, characteristic body shape and abnormalities of the heart and other organs.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy – an inherited type of muscular dystrophy characterised by rapid muscle weakness starting in the legs and pelvis.
Eggs – female sex cells, found in the ovary.
Ejaculate – fluid released from the penis during orgasm that normally contains sperm.
Embryo – An egg that has been fertilised by a sperm and has started to divide.
Embryo transfer – The placement of embryos into the uterus using a fine sterile tube.
Endometriosis – a condition where the lining of the uterus (which is shed each month), forms at abnormal places inside and outside of the uterus.
Endometrium – Lining of the uterus or womb.
Epididymis – structure on the outside of the testis which connect the testis to the spermatic cord. It is the location of sperm maturation and storage before ejaculation.
Fallopian tube – a tube that stretches from the ovary to the uterus.
Fertilisation – when a sperm enters the egg to form an embryo.
Fibroids – benign growths of the muscle layer of the uterus.
Foetus – an unborn individual in the later stages of development – in humans, from seven to eight weeks after fertilisation until birth.
Follicle – an egg surrounded by support cells.
Follicle stimulating hormone – FSH. Hormone produced by the brain that stimulates the growth of follicles in the ovary and sperm development in the testes.
Gametes – eggs and sperm.
GIFT – gamete intrafallopian tube transfer.
Haemophilia A – a rare heritable bleeding disorder where there is a shortage of one of the blood clotting factors (clotting factor VIII).
hCG – human chorionic gonadotrophin. A hormone produced by the embryo after it has attached to the uterus. It has similar properties to luteinizing hormone and is used to induce maturation of eggs in the ovary during an IVF cycle.
Hormone replacement therapy – a treatment where synthetic hormones are given to help overcome menopausal symptoms.
Huntington's disease – a progressive genetic disorder involving the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain. It is characterised by abnormal movements of the body and mental decline.
Hydrocephalus – a disorder associated with the build up of fluid in the brain resulting in brain damage.
ICSI – intracytoplasmic sperm injection. A technique where a single sperm is injected directly into the egg.
IVF – in vitro fertilisation. Infertility treatment where eggs and sperm are placed in vitro (meaning 'in glass') for fertilisation to occur outside the body.
Laparoscopy – surgical procedure in which a small camera is inserted into the abdominal cavity so that internal organs can be viewed.
Luteinizing hormone – LH. Hormone produced by the brain that is involved in egg maturation and ovulation in women. In men, it is involved in the production of testosterone.
Miscarriage – spontaneous loss of an embryo or foetus from the uterus.
Muscular dystrophy – a group of diseases that results in progressive weakness and loss of muscle tissue.
Oestrogen – female sex hormone produced by the large growing follicles in the ovary.
Ovarian hyperstimulation – a condition (sometimes fatal) where the ovaries become enlarged, painful and release fluid into the abdomen. It can occur in response to over stimulation with hormones, usually follicle stimulating hormone, in infertility treatments.
Ovary – one of two reproductive organs in a female that produce eggs and secrete estrogen and progesterone.
Ovulation – the process where the follicle opens to release the egg from the ovary. Occurs in response to luteinizing hormone.
Polycystic ovarian disease – condition where the ovary contains numerous cysts, ovulation is disrupted and hormone levels (particularly testosterone) are abnormal.
Polyps – benign growths of the inner wall of the uterus
Progesterone – female sex hormone produced after ovulation in the ovary. The main hormone produced during pregnancy.
Sperm – the male sex cells, produced in the testes.
Sperm count – a method of analysing the volume of semen, number, shape and motility of sperm. A normal sperm count contains on average 60 million sperm per millilitre of semen, of which 50 per cent are healthy, motile sperm.
Spermatic cord – known also as vas deferens. A tube which connects the epididymis to the urethra.
Subfertility – having a reduced likelihood of becoming pregnant due to problems within the reproductive tract.
Testicular varicocele – swelling of the blood vessels around the testes.
Thalassemia – a group of genetic blood diseases where the molecules inside red blood cells that carry oxygen are decreased or absent.
Turner's Syndrome – a genetic condition where the ovaries fail to fully develop and produce none or very few eggs resulting in total infertility. It occurs when one of the two X chromosomes are missing or incomplete.
Uterus – also known as the womb. The place where the embryo attaches and grows during gestation. It comprises an outer muscular layer called the myometrium and an inner glandular lining called the endometrium. The endometrium is shed each month, resulting in a period.
Vasectomy – surgical procedure where a segment of the spermatic cord is removed to prevent the sperm from being released into the ejaculate.
Zygote – a fertilised egg up to the time it first divides.
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