Resources:  Terminology

Listed below are some of the terms used by infertility specialists and in the literature. Being familiar with these terms will assist you in understanding us, our Web site, and other sources of information about infertility.

AH
Assisted hatching (weakening of the shell surrounding the embryo to help with implantation)

ART
Assisted reproductive technologies (techniques that involve the removal of eggs from the ovary, such as IVF, GIFT, ICSI, ZIFT)

Blastocyst
An embryo about 5 days after fertilization and close to the time of implantation. The blastocyst is an embryonic ball of cells filled with fluid

Bravelle
An injectable drug containing FSH, used for ovulation induction.

CB
Cryobiology

Clomiphene
A drug taken in tablet form that induces ovulation; brand names: Clomid, Serophene

Clomid
Brand of clomiphene

Cryopreservation
Freezing sperm or embryos for prolonged storage and later use

Donor insemination
Placement of sperm from an anonymous or known individual into the uterus of a women who is not married to the sperm donor. Typically, sperm is extensively screened for sexually transmitted diseases and quarantined for 6 months stored frozen. Commonly used for severe male factor infertility.

Donor oocytes
Eggs obtained after gonadotropin stimulation and follicle aspiration from an anonymous or known individual. Typically used to address insufficient egg production or the lack of egg production in the intended mother.

Embryo cryopreservation
Embryos stored in a frozen state for future use. (Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the embryos.) Excess embryos from IVF typically are frozen at the 2 pronuclear stage (sperm and egg nuclei are not yet joined) or the blastocyst stage (day 5 or 6 of development).

Endocrinology
Study of glands and hormones, and of their disorders

FET
Frozen embryo transfer

Follicle
Fluid-filled ovarian cyst containing an egg

Follistim
Brand of gonadotropic medication containing FSH

Gamete
Egg or sperm

GIFT
Gamete intrafallopian transfer

Gonadotropins
Hormones that cause egg development and ovulation; hormone medications include Repronex, Follistim, Gonal F, Bravelle, and Menopur

Gonal F
Brand of gonadotropic medication containing FSH

Humegon
Brand of gonadotropic medication containing FSH

ICSI
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, direct injection of 1 sperm into the egg

Intracytoplasmic
Into the interior of a cell, specifically, the egg

Intrafallopian
Into the fallopian tube (the tube connecting the ovary to the uterus)

IVF
In vitro fertilization (fertilization outside of the body)

Menopur
Brand of gonadotropic medication containing FSH and LH

MESA
Epididymal sperm aspiration (used to obtain sperm from men with blockage of the vasdeferns (i.e.: vasectomy)

ORM
Ohio Reproductive Medicine

Ovulation
The release of an egg from the ovary

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)
Removal of one or two cells from an embryo for rapid analysis to avoid placing an embryo carrying a known genetic disease (e.g., muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell, Tay-Sachs) or a chromosomal abnormality (e.g., Down syndrome) within the uterus

Recurrent pregnancy loss
Loss of two or more consecutive pregnancies before 20 weeks of pregnancy

Repronex
Brand of gonadotropic medication containing FSH and LH

RDI
Reproductive Diagnostics, Inc. (the ART laboratory)

Serophene
Brand of clomiphene

ZIFT
Zygote intrafallopian transfer

Zygote
Fertilized egg