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.
| P
|
| PCOS |
Polycystic ovarian syndrome, an abnormal condition
in which the ovaries have many minute cysts and there is excess
androgen (male hormone) production. |
| PCT |
Post-coital test, a microscopic examination of a
women's cervical mucus after intercourse to check the number and
motility of sperm in the mucus. |
| Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) |
Infection involving pelvic organs especially the
tubes and ovaries. It may result in damage or blockage of the Fallopian
tubes. |
| Pergonal (hMG) |
A fertility drug given by injection. It consists
of equal amounts of FSH and LH. It is recovered from the urine of
post-menopausal women. |
| Pergoveris |
A fertility drug given by injection. It contains 150 IU recombinant FSH and 75 IU recombinant LH. |
| Perinatal death rate |
The number of stillbirths and first week deaths per
1000 delivered (livebirths and stillbirths). |
| PESA |
Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration, this involves
retrieving sperm directly from the epididymis using a needle. |
| Pituitary gland |
A small gland located in the base of the brain and
just beneath the hypothalamus, it secretes many hormones including
FSH and LH. |
| PGD |
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, the techniques
by which embryos fertilized in vitro is tested for specific genetic
disorders such as cystic fibrosis and hemophilia before being transferred
into the uterus. |
| PGS |
Preimplantation Genetic Screening is technique used
to examine the embryo for aneuploidy (wrong number of chromosomes),
and only transfer normal embryos. |
| Placenta |
The afterbirth organ to which the developing embryo
and fetus is connected by the umbilical cord. |
| Polyp |
A small growth, usually benign protruding from the
endometrium and dangle into the cavity of the womb. It may interfere
with embryo implantation by acting like a coil. Polyps are usually
removed surgically. |
| Pregnancy rate per cycle |
The number of pregnancies achieved from every 100-treatment
cycle commenced. |
| Pregnyl |
A fertility drug given by injection and consists
of Human chorionic gonadotropin. |
| Preterm delivery |
The delivery before completion of 37 weeks of pregnancy |
| Premature menopause |
A condition in which menopause occurs before the
age of 40. It affects approximately 1% of women. In most cases there
is no identifiable cause. The only effective treatment for infertility
is IVF with donated eggs. |
| Profasi |
A fertility drug given by injection and consists
of Human chorionic gonadotropin. |
| Progesterone |
A hormone secreted by the corpus luteum in the second
half of the menstrual cycle to stimulate the endometrium and prepare
it for implantation and maintains it should pregnancy occur, progesterone
is produced in large quantities by the placenta. |
| Prostap |
A long-acting GnRh agonist drug used to induce pituitary
down-regulation. |
| Prostate gland |
A chestnut-sized gland in the male that lies below
the bladder and encircles the urethra where the ejaculatory ducts,
the two vas differences, and the urethra join, it contributes fluid
to the ejaculate. |
| Puregon |
A recombinant Follicle stimulating hormone 'fertility
drug'. |
| PZD |
Partial Zona Dissection, a micromanipulation procedure
to help sperm penetrate the zona pellucida. |
| Prolactin |
A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland to stimulate
milk production after childbirth. |
| Pronucleate stage |
An early stage of fertilization, when the sperm and
egg pronuclei are visible under the microscope. |
| Prostap |
A long acting GnRh agonist drug used to induce pituitary
down-regulation. |
| Prostatitis |
Inflammation of the prostate gland usually as a result
of infection. |
| Q |
| R |
| Recto electro-ejaculation |
A technique used to obtain an ejaculate from spinal
injured, or otherwise impotent men, where a special probe is inserted
into the rectum to stimulate the seminal vesicles. |
| Radiotherapy |
The use of radiation and radioactive substances to
treat cancer. |
| Retrograde ejaculation |
The backward release of ejaculate into the bladder
instead of the urethra at time of male orgasm. |
| Rubella |
Also called 'German measles', it is caused by an
infectious virus and is characterized by general rashes and swollen
glands. If infection occurs during the first few months of pregnancy
it may cause severe congenital abnormalities. |
