AMH: Anti Müllerian Hormone is produced by follicles and is one potential test for ovarian reserve
Andrologist: Doctor specialising in male infertility
Anovulation: When a woman does not ovulate
Azoospermia: When no sperm is present in semen
Blastocyst stage: An embryo that is 5 or 6 days old following egg collection
Diathermy: Electrosurgery used either as a cutting modality or else to cauterize small blood vessels to stop bleeding
Embryo: Fertilised egg
Endometriosis: Cells from the endometrium appear outside the uterine cavity, generally on the ovaries and can cause distortion and adhesions
Epididymis: The organ where sperm is stored
Fallopian tubes: Tubes which join the uterus to the ovaries
Fibroids: Benign (non-malignant) tumours of the uterine wall
Follicle: The sack in which the egg grows before ovulation. Not every follicle contains an egg
FSH: Follicle Stimulating Hormone which is responsible for maturing the egg
Gametes: Reproductive cells, either female eggs or male sperm
HEP B (Anti-HBc): Hepatitis B: first antibody produced after infection with hepatitis B virus; used to detect acute and chronic infections.
HEP B (HBsAg): Hepatitis B: earliest indicator of acute hepatitis B and frequently identifies infected people before symptoms appear; undetectable in the blood during the recovery period; it is the primary way of identifying those with chronic infections
hCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a hormone injection that triggers ovulation
HFEA: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is the regulatory body by which all fertility clinics in the UK conform to set standards
HTLV: Human T-Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) is a retrovirus associated with a weakening of the immune system which is lifelong. Some people may carry without symptoms whilst others develop cancers and other diseases, depending on the form of HTLV with which they are infected
Hydrosalpinx: Fluid collects in the fallopian tube
Hypothalamus: Area of the brain responsible for the control of the pituitary gland
Hysteroscopy: An inspection of the uterus using a small telescope
IVF: In Vitro Fertilisation
ICSI: Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection involves injecting single sperm directly into a mature egg using a specially prepared needle
IMSI: Intracytoplasmic Morphologically-selected Sperm Injection is ICSI with the difference of an extremely high-powered microscope to select the sperm cells with the best quality
IUI: Intra Uterine Insemination involves injecting sperm using a fine catheter when a woman has ovulated
Laparoscopy: An inspection of the pelvis using a small telescope
LH: Luteinising Hormone which brings about ovulation
LH – RH analogue: A drug that stimulates the release of FSH from the pituitary gland
Myomectomy: Open surgery to remove large fibroids
Oestrogen / Oestrodiol (E2): A female sex hormone secreted by the developing follicle
OHSS: Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome has varying degrees of severity and is a complication caused when there is an excessive response of the ovaries to fertility drugs
Ovaries: The female reproductive organs which produce female sex hormones and store and release eggs
Ovulation: The release of the egg from the ovarian follicle
Peritoneal cavity: The space that contains internal pelvic and abdominal organs
Pituitary gland: The gland which secretes the hormones that control ovulation
PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
PGAS: Pre-implantation Genetic Aneuploidy Screening is a chromosomal analysis of abnormal embryos
Progesterone: A female sex hormone produced by the ovaries during the release of a mature egg at ovulation
Prolactin: Hormone produced by the pituitary gland. High levels of prolactin cause anovulation
Pronuclei: Visible signs of fertilisation containing the genetic material from the male and female gametes
Rubella: Disease caused by the rubella virus. If the mother is infected, the baby will be born with a range of serious incurable illnesses
Sickle cell screening: Blood test to check whether or not there is a possibility that a baby could inherit sickle cell disease
Testes: The male reproductive organs that produce sperm
Thalassaemia: A genetic condition affecting the blood. There are different types of thalassaemia. Depending on which type, thalassaemia may cause no illness at all or may be a serious lifelong condition requiring treatment
TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is produced by the pituitary gland and causes the thyroid gland to make 2 hormones: T3 and T4
Varicocele: Varicose veins around the vas deferens
Vas deferens: The tube from each testicle which transports sperm
