Glossary |
|
| ACART |
Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology |
| ART |
Assisted Reproductive Technology |
| ADHESION |
Unnatural union of surfaces due to inflammation |
| AGONIST |
A synthetic hormone used in an IVF cycle |
| ANEMBRYONIC PREGNANCY |
No fetal heartbeat is visible at the 6-8 week scan |
| ANEUPLOIDY |
Abnormal number of chromosomes |
| ANTAGONIST |
A synthetic hormone that stimulates the pituitary immediately preventing ovulation |
| BLASTOCYST |
Extended stage embryo, five to six days old consisting of 20 to100 cells |
| BIOCHEMICAL PREGNANCY |
A pregnancy that ends at a very early pregnancy stage prior to ultrasound confirmation |
| CERVIX |
Lower segment of neck of the uterus which protrudes in the vaginal canal |
| CLEAVAGE STAGE |
An embryo at the early stage of development, comprising of a small number of cells |
| CONGENITAL |
Referring to certain mental or physical conditions or diseases that may be hereditary or due to an influence occurring during gestation up to the moment of birth |
| CRYOPRESERVATION |
Preservation (by freezing) of surplus embryos, eggs or sperm |
| CUMULUS CELLS |
The cloud of cells surrounding the egg |
| ECART |
Ethics Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology |
| ECTOPIC PREGNANCY |
Embryo implantation outside the uterus (usually in the fallopian tubes) |
| EGG COLLECTION |
Ovum pick up (OPU) |
| EMBRYO |
Development from conception to eight weeks of pregnancy |
| EMBRYO BIOPSY |
The removal of one or two cells, from an early IVF embryo for preimplantation genetic diagnosis |
| EMBRYO TRANSFER |
Placement of embryos into the uterus |
| ENDOMETRIOSIS |
Endometrium located outside the uterus in the pelvic cavity |
| ENDOMETRIUM |
The mucus membrane that lines the inner surface of the uterus |
| EXTENDED CULTURE |
The term used to describe growth of embryos in culture for 4-6 days. |
| FALLOPIAN TUBES |
Tubes that extend from the uterus to the ovary and serve as a passageway for the egg and sperm to connect and fertilise |
| FALLOPOSCOPY |
A technique for visualising the inside of the fallopian tube |
| FERTILISATION |
The earliest stage after the penetration of the egg by a sperm |
| FET |
Frozen Embryo Transfer, a procedure in which one or more frozen embryos are thawed and then transferred to the uterus |
| FETAL |
Relating to a foetus |
| FETUS |
The unborn child from the eighth week of pregnancy until birth |
| FOLLICLE |
A small secretory sac in the ovary in which an egg develops |
| FOLLICULAR PHASE |
First half of the menstrual cycle before ovulation |
| FSH |
Follicle Stimulating Hormone which is produced by the anterior pituitary gland and stimulates the growth of follicles in the female. FSH also induces spermatogenesis in the testicle |
| GAMETE |
A mature germ cell (egg or sperm) |
| GESTATION |
The period of fetal development inside the uterus measured by weeks |
| GNRH |
Gonadotrophin releasing hormone - produced by the brain and stimulates the pituitary gland to produce LH & FSH |
| HART Act |
Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (HART) Act |
| HCG |
Human chorionic gonadotrophin. A hormone secreted by the placenta |
| HORMONE |
A chemical substance, secreted by the endocrine glands, which is carried by the blood stream to the target organ influencing its activity, growth and nutrition |
| HYSTEROSCOPY |
A diagnostic procedure whereby an instrument (hysteroscope) is inserted through the cervix into the uterus for assessment |
| ICSI |
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, which is the injection of a single sperm into each suitable egg |
| IN VITRO |
Outside the body |
| IN VIVO |
Inside the body |
| IUI |
Intrauterine Insemination, which is a procedure whereby sperm are placed directly into the uterus |
| IVF |
In Vitro Fertilisation. A procedure in which an egg is removed from a ripe follicle and fertilised by a sperm outside the human body. The resultant embryo can then be transferred into the uterus |
| LAPAROSCOPY |
Diagnostic procedure where an instrument (laparoscope) is inserted through a small incision just below the umbilicus, to enable visualisation of the pelvic cavity and its organs |
| LH |
Luteinising Hormone. Produced by the anterior pituitary and responsible for stimulating ovulation. |
| LUTEAL PHASE |
The second half of the menstrual cycle after ovulation until the menstrual period |
| MENOPAUSE |
The permanent cessation of menstruation following the loss of ovarian function |
| MENOPAUSE (EARLY) |
Menopause in women less than 46 years of age |
| MENOPAUSE (PREMATURE) |
Menopause in women less than or equal to 35 years of age |
| MISCARRIAGE |
Loss of pregnancy |
| MOTILE |
Ability to move |
| OESTRADIOL |
The primary female hormone produced by the ovary |
| OESTROGEN |
Combination of oestradiol, oestriol, and oestrone produced by the ovaries |
| OHSS |
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. A group of symptoms which is associated with ovarian enlargement. |
| OOCYTE |
The egg cell (gamete, ovum) produced in the ovary each month |
| OVULATION |
The normal process of release of a mature egg from an ovary approximately 14 days prior to the onset of the menstrual period |
| OVUM |
Egg |
| PATENT TUBES |
Open fallopian tubes allowing free passage for the union and transport of the egg, sperm and embryo |
| PERINATAL |
Occurring during, or pertaining to, the time before, during or after the time of birth |
| PITUITARY GLAND |
A small ‘pea’ size gland at the base of the brain which secretes a number of hormones responsible for normal growth, development and fertility |
| PGD |
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis - the process of taking cells from an embryo to check the number of chromosomes or to test for a specific genetic abnormality. Usually 1 or 2 cells are taken from an 8-cell embryos on the third day of embryo development. |
| PROGESTERONE |
Hormone produced by the ovary in the Luteal phase. Its main function is to change the growth of the endometrium and facilitate the implantation of the embryo. |
| RECOMBINANT HORMONE |
A synthetically created hormone that is a copy of a naturally occurring hormone |
| SEMEN |
Fluid containing sperm |
| SPERMATOGENESIS |
Production and development of the sperm cell |
| SPERMATOZOON |
Mature male sperm cell (gamete) produced by the testicle |
| UTERUS |
Female reproductive organ where a pregnancy develops |
| VAGINA |
Passageway between the external genitals and the uterus |
