| adhesions |
Bands of scar tissue attached to organ
surfaces and capable of connecting, covering, or distorting organs,
such as tubes, ovaries or uterus. |
| AID (artificial insemination, donor) |
A procedure introducing sperm from an
anonymous donor into a woman's uterus in order to achieve a pregnancy.
|
| AIH (artificial insemination, husband or
homologous) |
A special insemination procedure used to
introduce sperm collected from a woman's partner into the woman's
uterus. Also referred to as intrauterine insemination (IUI). |
| antisperm antibodies |
Antibodies that may be produced by
either a female or male which may damage sperm or cause them to adhere
to each other, thus limiting their fertility potential. |
| azoospermia |
The absence of sperm in the ejaculate.
|
| cervical mucus |
Mucus produced by the cervix which
changes in thickness and quantity at the time of ovulation. |
| cervix |
The lower section of the uterus which
protrudes into the vagina and serves as a passageway for sperm into
the uterus. |
| Corpus Luteum |
A structure in the ovary that develops
after the egg is released, which secretes progesterone. |
| cryopreservation |
The preservation of sperm or embryos by
freezing, usually by immersion in liquid nitrogen. |
| endometriosis |
The presence of endometrial tissue in
abnormal locations, such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries and abdominal
cavity. The condition frequently causes pain and discomfort during
menstruation, or even chronic pelvic pain, and may also cause
infertility. |
| endometrium |
The inner lining of the uterus. |
| estrogen |
The primary female hormone produced
mainly by the ovaries from puberty to menopause. |
| fallopian tube |
The tube that connects the uterus and
ovary. It allows the egg to pass from the ovary to the uterus and the
spermatozoa from the uterus toward the ovary. |
| fibroids |
Smooth muscle tumors of the muscular
wall of the uterus which are almost always benign but may cause
infertility or recurrent miscarriages. |
| follicle |
A cystic structure in the ovary which
contains and nurtures the ovum (egg). It enlarges to a diameter of 18
- 28 mm (3/4 - 1 inch) before ovulation, at which point it releases
the egg. |
| FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) |
A hormone that recruits and then
stimulates growth of the follicle in the ovary, as well as the
formation of spermatozoa in the testes. |
| GIFT (gamete intrafallopian transfer)
|
A procedure in which eggs are removed
from a ripened follicle and via laparoscopy are placed with sperm into
the fallopian tube, where fertilization takes place. |
| gonadotropin |
A hormone (FSH, LH, hMG, hCG) which
stimulates the gonads (ovaries or testes). |
| GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone)
|
A small hormone produced by the brain
which causes the pituitary gland to manufacture and release FSH and LH.
|
| GnRH agonist (Lupron) |
Differs from GnRH at 2 amino-acid
positions. Used to stop production of FSH and LH from the pituitary
gland. |
| Gonal-F |
The brand name of a new recombinant FSH
used to stimulate the ovaries to produce follicles. Follistim is the
brand name of another recombinant FSH on the market. |
| hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) |
A hormone produced by the placenta.
Detection of its presence in urine or blood is the basis of the
pregnancy test. Also used to trigger final maturation and ovulation of
the egg. |
| hMG (human menopausal gonadotropin) |
A hormone (Pergonal or Humegon) used to
stimulate follicle production. Equal parts of FSH and LH are present.
|
| hysteroscopy |
An endoscopic (fiber-optic tube)
procedure used primarily to visualize the interior of the uterus. |
| implantation |
The embedding of the embryo in the
uterine wall. |
| in-vitro fertilization/embryo transfer
|
A procedure in which an egg is removed
from a ripe follicle and fertilized with sperm outside the body. The
resulting embryo is inserted into the woman's uterus. |
| laparoscopy |
An abdominal surgical procedure using an
endoscopic instrument (fiber-optic tube) to view the fallopian tubes,
ovaries, uterus, and other abdominal structures. The laparoscope may
also be used to perform surgical procedures, employing the use of
lasers and other specialized equipment. |
| LH (luteinizing hormone) |
A hormone produced and released by the
pituitary gland. In the female, it is responsible for maturation and
then the release of the ovum. In the male, it stimulates testosterone
production. |
| Lutrepulse |
The trade name for a gonadotropin
releasing hormone (GnRH) used to induce ovulation in some patients. It
is administered through an infusion pump in a pulsatile fashion. |
| oligospermia |
The presence of a low number of sperm in
the ejaculate. |
| ovum |
The egg cell (gamete) produced in a
woman's ovaries during each menstrual cycle. |
| ovulation |
The release of a mature egg from the
surface of the ovary. |
| pituitary gland |
A gland at the base of the brain which
produces many hormones, including FSH and LH. |
| polyps |
Small, benign growths protruding from
the lining of the endometrium or endocervix. |
| progesterone |
A hormone produced and released during
the second half of a woman's ovulatory cycle. It is necessary in the
preparation of the uterine lining for implantation of the fertilized
egg. |
| semen |
The sperm and seminal secretions
ejaculated by the male during orgasm. |
| sperm |
Male reproductive cells contained in the
seminal fluid. |
| testosterone |
The most potent male sex hormone,
produced in the testes. |
| uterus |
The reproductive organ which protects
and nourishes the developing embryo/fetus. It is a hollow, muscular
structure that is part of the female reproductive tract, and it is the
source of a woman's menses. |
| vagina |
A tubular passageway in the female which
connects the external sex organs with the cervix and uterus. |
