Fertility Terms for Those Who are TTC (Trying to Conceive)

If you are seeking fertility treatment, you will hear many new words you may not be familiar with. The following are infertility terms you may need to know to fully understand your treatment options:

Aneuploidy – An abnormal chromosome count. This is an indication of serious defects in a fertilized egg that usually lead to early miscarriage.

Artificial Insemination – Introduction of sperm into a female patient’s reproductive tract through means other than intercourse.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT) – The low body temperature reached after a night of sleep before a person gets up and begins moving around. A slight increase in this temperature usually occurs upon ovulation.

Basal Body Temperature Charting (BBT Charting) – Recording each daily temperature, plotted onto a graph in order to ultimately recognize a pattern. Your body temperature can rise gradually, suddenly or in steps. These patterns can differ from cycle to cycle.

Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid) – Clomid is a drug that stimulates ovulation by increasing production of gonadotropins (pituitary gland hormones). This is a commonly prescribed medication for infertility that involves menstrual cycle irregularities.

Egg Donation – Young women who wish to assist an infertile couple in achieving a pregnancy may undergo a course of hormone injections to stimulate a large number of eggs to mature at once. These donated eggs are retrieved and may be used immediately or frozen.

Egg Retrieval – Eggs are removed from a patient’s ovaries for use in vitro fertilization. This outpatient procedure involves the use of a long needle inserted through the vaginal wall to suction the eggs from the ovaries.

Embryo – A fertilized egg is referred to as an embryo until about week 8 of gestational development. After this, the term fetus is used instead of embryo.

Embryo Biopsy – A diagnostic test used to identify chromosomal abnormalities. This procedure is done by removing a single cell from an embryo that is developing in an IVF dish. The biopsy does not interfere with normal development.

Embryo Cryopreservation – Freezing of fertilized eggs for future use. This step sometimes allows multiple IVF attempts to be carried out from a single follicle stimulation/egg retrieval cycle.

Embryo Transfer – Introducing embryos that have developed for several days in an IVF dish into a woman’s uterus. The embryos are transferred via a flexible tube inserted through the cervix.

Endometriosis – A painful medical condition that causes abnormal growth of endometrial tissue (the type of tissue that lines the uterus). Endometriosis can cause fallopian scarring and other issues that lead to infertility.

Fibroid – A non-cancerous tumor that grows on the wall of the uterus. Fibroids can occasionally interfere with fertility.

FSH Injections (Gonadotropins) – Follicle Stimulating Hormones trigger the maturation of eggs in the ovaries and make them ready for retrieval. These hormones are injected just under the skin.

Gender Selection – Selection of the desired gender either through sperm sorting or the much more accurate method of inspecting a developing embryo prior to transfer into the uterus.

Hydrosalpinx – Blockage of the fallopian tube with a clear liquid that prevents the passage of an egg and results in infertility. This medical condition is typically caused by infection with an STD that damages the fallopian tube at the end nearest the ovary.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) – Injection of a single sperm directly through the protective outer shell of an egg into the cytoplasm. The fertilized egg is kept in the IVF dish and observed to ensure fertilization and normal development before transfer.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) – Sperm is collected from the male partner and processed to remove the semen components and concentrate the sperm. This sample is introduced into the female partner’s uterus. From there, the sperm travels to the fallopian tubes to fertilize an egg.

In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) – Sperm are introduced into an IVF dish that contains an egg so that fertilization occurs outside the patient’s body. The term In-Vitro Fertilization is often used to refer to the whole cycle of follicle stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, and transfer into the uterus.

MESA – Micro Epididymal Sperm Aspiration is a surgical procedure performed to retrieve sperm from the duct that stores sperm as it matures. It involves making a very small incision in the scrotum.

Oocyte Cryopreservation – Retrieval, freezing, and storage of a woman’s eggs for use in future fertility treatment. (Egg Freezing)

Ovarian Reserve – The number of viable eggs a woman has remaining.

Ovulation – Release of a mature egg from the ovary into the fallopian tube where it can be fertilized. This normally happens once every 28 days about halfway through each menstrual cycle.

Ovulation Monitor – A device that measures hormones in the urine, sweat or other body fluids to determine when an egg is about to be released and can be used to pinpoint the best days for intercourse to achieve pregnancy.

Polyp – Excessive growth of endometrial tissue on stalks protruding from the lining of the uterus into the uterine cavity. These may cause miscarriage.

Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) – Genetic screening of embryos for abnormal chromosome counts or mutations while they are developing in an IVF dish. PGD increases the success rate of IVF by detecting and screening out any embryos that cannot survive.

Semen Analysis (SA) – Evaluation of a semen sample to determine if the number, movement, and shape of a male partner’s sperm are normal.

TESE – Testicular Sperm Extraction is a surgical biopsy technique used to retrieve viable sperm from the testicles of men who cannot give a sperm sample by other methods.

Varicocele – A varicose vein occurring in the scrotum. When the valve in the vein fails, blood accumulates causing the vein to swell – potentially affecting fertility.

Vasectomy Reversal – Surgical reconnection of the vas deferens (ducts that carry sperm from the testicles to the point where the sperm is mixed with semen). This procedure may be used to restore normal fertility to a male partner.

Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT) – Placement of a newly fertilized egg (zygote) directly into the fallopian tube. Returning the egg to its natural environment increases the chances of successful development and implantation.