Welcome to the glossary aspect of the site. Here we
have included a list of all the terms that have been used in the site
with an accompanying definition or explanation.
| A |
| Abandoned cycle |
An IVF cycle cancelled after drug administration has
begun and before egg collection. |
| Abortion |
Pregnancy lost before the fetus can survive independently. |
| Acrosome |
Cap-like structure that surround the sperm head and
contains enzymes that help penetration of the egg. |
| Acrosome reaction |
Chemical changes that enable a sperm to penetrate
an egg. |
| Adhesions |
Bands of fibrous scar tissue that may bind the pelvic
organs or loops of bowel together. |
| Adrenal gland |
A pair of hormone producing glands located above
the kidneys. |
| Agglutination |
Clumping sperm together due to infection, inflammation
or antibodies. |
| AID |
Artificial Insemination by Donor. |
| AIDS |
Acquired immune-deficiency syndrome; a fatal disease
caused by HIV that destroys the immune system's ability to fight
infection. |
| AIH |
Artificial Insemination by Husband. |
| Amenorrhoea |
Absence of menstrual cycles for six months or longer. |
| Amniocentesis |
A procedure which is usually carried out at around
15-16 weeks of pregnancy. It involves aspirating a small amount
of the fluid which surround the baby in the womb. This fluid contains
cells from the baby which can then be cultured and tested to determine
the baby's chromosome. The procedure is usually performed under
ultrasound scan using a fine needle. The risk of causing miscarriage
by this procedure is between 0.5 - 1%. The results often take two
to three weeks. |
| Androgens |
Male sex hormones that are present in both men and
women but in different quantities and producing different effects. |
| Andrologist |
A specialist in male infertility. |
| Anomaly |
Malformation or abnormality in any part of the baby. |
| Anovulation |
Absence of ovulation (failure to ovulate). |
| Antigen |
An antigen is any substance capable of eliciting immune
response. |
| Antisperm antibodies |
Antibodies produced by the immune system against
sperm. It adversely affects sperm function by inhibiting movement
of sperm and fertilization. It can be present in males and females. |
| Artificial insemination |
Is placing sperm into the female reproductive tract. |
| Aspermia |
Absence of semen. |
| ASRM |
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine. |
| Assisted hatching |
The mechanical, chemical or laser breaching of the
gelatinous coating of the egg (zona pellucida). |
| Asthenozoospermia |
Low sperm motility. |
| Asymptomatic |
Without any symptoms. |
| Atresia |
Degeneration and resorption of a follicle before
it reaches maturity and ruptures. |
| Azoospermia |
The complete absence of sperm in the ejaculate, is
present in about 1% of all men and in 10-15% of infertile men. |
| B
|
| Basal body temperature (BBT) chart |
Charting BBT is used to predict the time of ovulation. |
| Beta hCG test |
A blood test used to detect very early pregnancy
and evaluate development. |
| Biochemical pregnancy |
When the patient’s pregnancy test is positive but
no pregnancy is visible on ultrasound scan. |
| Biopsy |
The removal of a piece of tissue for microscopic
examination. |
| Blastocyst |
An advanced stage of embryo development, the embryo
consists of an outer thin layer of cells, which later develops to
placenta and an inner cell mass later develops to fetus. |
| Blastocyst transfer |
The transfer of one or more embryos at the blastocyst
stage into the uterine cavity. |
| Blighted ovum (anembryonic pregnancy) |
Fertilized egg that failed to develop properly after
implantation. Gestation sac develops in the absence of an embryo. |
| Bromocriptine (Parlodel) |
Tablets used to reduce prolactin production and reduce
tumor when present. |
| Buserelin |
Is a GnRh agonist drug used as a nasal spray or by
daily injection. |
| C
|
| Cervicitis |
Inflammation of the cervix. |
| Cervix |
Neck of womb. It acts as a reservoir for sperm and
secretes an alkaline mucus which protect sperm from the acidity
of the vagina. |
| Cervical mucus |
The secretion in the cervical canal. The amount and
texture changes during the menstrual cycle. |
| Cervical smear (PAP smear) |
A screening test for cancer of the neck of the womb. |
| Chemotherapy |
The use of anticancer drugs to treat or control cancer. |
| Chlamydia |
A sexually transmitted disease, it is a common cause
of pelvic infection and subsequent tubal damage and infertility. |
| Chocolate (endometriosis) cyst |
A cyst inside the ovary filled with old blood. It
occurs in endometriosis. |
| Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) |
A procedure which involve taking a biopsy from the
placenta to test the fetus for genetic abnormalities. It is usually
carried out under ultrasound scan at about eleven weeks of pregnancy.
The placenta has the same genetic make-up as the baby. There is
a 2-3% risk of the procedure causing a miscarriage. |
| Chromosomes |
Thread like structures that lie inside the nucleus
of a cell. A human cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes. Chromosomes
are packed up with genes which carry all the information needed
for the human body. The 23 pairs of chromosomes include a pair of
sex chromosomes that determine the sex of the embryo. There are
two types of sex chromosomes, X and Y - the Y is smaller than the
X and contain all the essential genes for sex determination. The
presence of a Y chromosome ensures a male (XY), its absence ensures
a female (XX). |
| Cilia |
Hairlike projections from the cells lining the Fallopian
tubes. They play a part in guiding the fertilized egg into the uterus. |
| Clinical pregnancy |
A pregnancy confirmed by increasing levels of hCG
and the presence of a gestational sac detected by ultrasound scan
or a fetus. |
| Clomiphene (clomid) |
A fertility drug (anti estrogen tablet) used to stimulate
ovulation. |
| Clone |
A group of embryos or individuals that are genetically
identical. |
| Congenital |
A defect existing since birth. |
| Cornua |
The horns of the uterus where the Fallopian tubes
join the uterine cavity. |
| Cryopreservation |
The storage of the sperm, embryos or eggs by freezing
at a low temperature (-196°C). |
| Cryptorchidism |
Failure of one or both testicles to descend into
the scrotum. |
| Cyst |
Sac filled with fluid. |
| Cystic fibrosis |
A common genetic disease. If both partners carry
the gene, there is a 25% chance that the child will have the disease.
This is unpleasant and currently there is no cure. It affects the
lungs, bowels, pancreas, sweat glands etc. |
| Cytokines |
Cytokines are messenger molecules produced by lymphocytes.
They communicate with other cells of the immune system and recruit
them to fight off infection or reject foreign tissue from the body. |
| Cytomegalovirus infection |
Infection caused by the cytomegalovirus. Primary
infection of the mother during pregnancy may result in the death
of the fetus or serious generalized disease of the newborn. More
commonly, congenital infection follows a benign course though about
10% of affected children may subsequently be mentally retarded. |
| Cytotoxic |
Cytotoxic refers to a toxic effect on cells. |
