Adhesion

scar tissue in bands attached to various internal body parts, capable of connecting, covering or distorting organs such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries or bowel

Amenorrhoea

no period for >6 months

Anovulation

lack of egg production, usually indicated by the hormone levels measured during a menstrual cycle

ART

assisted reproductive technology; a general term for IVF, GIFT, PROST, ZIFT, TEST, ICSI etc.

Assisted Hatching

the process where special techniques are used to help the embryo come out of its shell (zona pellucida) ready for implantation.

Blastocyst

an embryo that has grown for 5-6 days and has now developed a central cavity ready for implantation

Cryopreserve

to preserve by freezing

Culture medium

special fluid in which eggs, sperm and embryos may survive and grow

Ectopic pregnancy

a pregnancy growing in one of the fallopian tubes; usually requires urgent surgical treatment to prevent rupture of the tube

Embryo

an egg which has been fertilised by (united with) a sperm and has begun to grow

Embryo transfer

placing an embryo back into the womb

Endometriosis

the presence of tissue which normally lines the womb, in unusual locations such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes or bladder

Endometrium

the internal lining tissue of the womb; this grows when stimulated by the female hormones and is shed every month if pregnancy does not occur

Epididymis

the thin coiled tube connecting the testis to the vas deferens

FSH

follicle stimulating hormone; a chemical produced by the pituitary gland of both males and females, it stimulates growth of follicles on the ovary and the production of sperm in the testis. This is the main ingredient of fertility drugs.

Fallopian tubes

pair of tubes which allow sperm to travel from the womb to the egg; is usually the site of fertilisation

Fertilisation

the process by which a sperm unites with an egg

Fimbriae

finger-like projections at the outer end of the fallopian tubes which assist in collecting the egg when it is released from the ovary

Follicles (ovarian)

a fluid filled sac in the ovary which produces female hormones, particularly oestrogen, and in which an egg develops

GIFT

gamete intra fallopian transfer; the eggs, removed from ovarian follicles are placed, with specially prepared sperm into the outer end of the fallopian tube. Not used very much nowadays

hCG

human chorionic gonadotrophin; a chemical substance (hormone) produced by the placenta in early pregnancy. The principal action is to stimulate your ovaries to produce more hormone to maintain the pregnancy

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus; the virus which causes AIDS

ICSI

intra cytoplasmic sperm injection; the laboratory process of injecting a single sperm into an egg

IVF

in vitro fertilisation; allows an egg to unite with a sperm outside the body. The embryo is allowed to grow for about 48 hours before it is placed back in the womb

Implantation

the process where an embryo successfully sticks to the lining of the uterus and starts to grow and develop

Inseminate

add sperm to the culture medium containing the egg

Laparoscopy

an internal examination of the pelvis or abdomen using a tube placed through the abdominal wall

LH

lutenising hormone; a chemical substance produced by the pituitary gland of both males and females. LH causes ovulation, stimulates the production of progesterone in women and testosterone in men

Luteal phase

the last 2 weeks of a menstrual cycle after an egg has been released, and during which the ovary produces progesterone.

Oestrogen

a female hormone produced by the ovary in varying amounts throughout the menstrual cycle

Oocyte

the egg, also called the ovum

OPU

oocyte pick-up; retrieval of the eggs from the follicles

Ovulation

release of a mature egg from the ovary; this usually occurs mid-way between two menstrual periods

PESA

percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration: removal of sperm from the epididymis using a small needle under local anaesthetic

PGD

preimplantation genetic diagnosis. A process where one cell is biopsied from the embryo for genetic studies before the embryo is replaced.

Progesterone

a female hormone produced by the ovary after ovulation with the function of supporting the lining of the womb to maintain the pregnancy

Semen

the fluid ejaculated by a man which contains sperm

Sperm

the male reproductive cells or male gametes

Sperm antibodies

substances produced by the immune system of either men or women which are capable of inactivating sperm

TESA

testicular sperm aspiration: removal of sperm from the testis using a biopsy needle under local anaesthetic

Ultrasound

uses sound waves to 'see' inside the body, it is used to visualise the uterus, the ovaries and the developing follicles

Uterus/womb

the female reproductive organ that supports the growing foetus and is the source of a women's menstrual bleeding

Vas deferens

the tube along which sperm travel connecting the testis and epididymis to the base of the penis