(The following brief definitions are not complete or all-encompassing. They are meant to refer only to the terms' use in the context of infertility treatment. Please use the enclosed information as quick reference and for discussion aids with your practitioner.)
- Amenorrhea
- absent menstruation
- Androgen
- male sex hormones; produced by males primarily in the testes, and in females by adrenal glands and ovaries
- Androstenedione
- a weaker androgen
- Anovulation
- absent ovulation
- Azoospermia
- lack of sperm
- Blastocyst
- stage of embryonic development about 5 days post-fertilization
- Cervix
- "doorway" into woman's uterus from the vagina; circular in shape, made of very strong muscles;
synonym: uterine neck - Conceptus
- any results of the union of a sperm and egg, from zygote to fetus
- Cryopreservation
- process by which sperm or embryos are frozen for later use
- Culture
- special liquid used to provide nutrients and protection for growing embryos in IVF process;
synonym: media - Cytoplasm
- usually referring to the area outside the nuclear cell of the oocyte that contains the physical elements or reproduction
- Dyspareunia
- persistent painful sexual intercourse or when such pain develops after long period of time without pain
- Embryo
- a fertilized egg that has undergone division or cleavage
- Endometrium
- tissue lining the uterus; its cyclical build up and shedding strongly impacts a woman's fertility
- Epididymis
- tubular structure attached to the testicle that serves as a reservoir where sperm mature and are stored
- Estradiol
- the most powerful and fertility-impacting of two types of estrogen, produced by the ovarian follicle
- Estrone
- the weakest of two types of estrogen
© Tracy Morris
