TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

Amenorrhea – suppressed menstruation
 

Androgen – predominantly male steroid hormone
 

Andrologist – one of the failures of male’s fertility
 

Antibody – solvable glycoproteins that are present in blood serum of intercellular lymph; or present in cellular membrane which recognize and bind antigens.
 

In vitro fertilization – the term refers to fertilization that takes place outside the body, in a lab dish instead of a woman’s fallopian tubes. IVF involves stimulating the ovaries, retrieving released eggs, fertilizing the eggs, growing the embryos in a laboratory, and then implanting the embryos in the woman’s uterus to develop.
 

Assisted reproduction – artificial insemination.
 

Biopsy – body tissues withdrawal by resection or puncture using a needle for microscopic, biochemical and microbiological examination.
 

Blastocyst – a stage of embryonic development that occurs about 5 days after fertilization, when the embryo consists of two different cell types (those that will form the placenta and those that will form the fetus) and a central cavity. Following IVF, the embryos are allowed to reach the Blastocyst stage before being transferred into the uterus, rather than being transferred after the second or third day.
 

Cervix – The opening into the uterus. The cervix is a ring of tissue at the top of the vagina designed to collect sperm (with a cervical mucus), which are later released into the uterus. Observing changes in your cervical mucus will help you determine signs of fertility.
 

Chromosome – is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions. As a rule, a person has 23 chromosome pairs.
 

Chromatism – deviation of normal number of chromosomes or structural changes of certain chromosomes. Frequency rises with parents’ aging (> 35 years to 1-2%,> 43 years to 9%)
 

Yellow body of ovary – temporary blood gland in the female organism which appears after ovulating and develops progesterone.
 

DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid is one of two types of a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms (with the exception of RNA viruses). The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in regulating the use of this genetic information. Along with RNA and proteins, DNA is one of the three major macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life.
 

Ductus deferens – spermoduct
 

Ovum selection – sucking of follicle liquid with ovum; and artificial insemination before 12 for interference.
 

Ejaculate – sperm ejection.
 

Embryo – a term that describes the time from fertilization of the egg until the eighth week of pregnancy.
 

Embryo period – until 8s week after fertilizationand conceiving.
 

Embryo transfer – placing an egg that has been fertilized outside the womb into a woman’s uterus or into the fallopian tube after IVF.
 

Embryopathy – failed embryo developing
 

Endocrinology – one of the youngest and thriving branches of medicine, concerning disease treatment connected to endocrine system abnormalities.
 

Endometriosis – disease which is characterized by endometrial tissue beside ovum
 

Endometrium – is the inner membrane of the mammalian uterus.
 

The epididymis – is part of the male reproductive system and is present in all male amniotes. It is a narrow, tightly-coiled tube connecting the efferent ducts from the rear of each testicle to its vas deferens.
 

In vitro fertilization – the term refers to fertilization that takes place outside the body, in a lab dish instead of a woman’s fallopian tubes. IVF involves stimulating the ovaries, retrieving released eggs, fertilizing the eggs, growing the embryos in a laboratory, and then implanting the embryos in the woman’s uterus to develop naturally.

Fertility is the natural capability of giving life. As a measure, “fertility rate” is the number of children born per couple, person or population.
 

Embryo – a term that describes the time from fertilization of the egg until the eighth week of pregnancy.
 

Follicle – a fluid-filled sac in the ovary that contains the eggs.
 

FSH/EQQ quality herbal support – herbal Support for Egg Quality Improvement is comprised of a balanced combination of medicinal herbs that help improve egg quality in women of all ages. The treatment increases the blood supply around the ovary, warming it so that it can produce fully ripened high-quality eggs. This herbal support therapy is recommended for enhancing egg quality for natural impregnation, or while undergoing IUI or IVF treatment.
 

Gamete – sex cell
 

GIFT – Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer, IVF method which is used only in case a woman has healthy tubes.
 

Gonadotrophic hormones – hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary; stimulate sexual glands and control the reproductive function of the body. The main gonadotrophins are the follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones.
 

Assisted hatching – microsurgical 5PT procedure during which the embryonic chorion is partly destroyed mechanically or chemically, which simplifies the embryo withdrawal from the chorion and its implantation. It increases the chances of getting pregnant with women over 39 years of age.
 

HCG – human chorionic gonadotrophin.
 

Testes – male’s genital gland.
 

Hormone – a chemical substance that travels via the bloodstream and carries a signal from one part of the body to another.
 

Hormones in female cycle:
 

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) – a reproductive hormone that stimulates sperm production in a man; in a woman, FSH stimulates the growth of the ovarian follicle and the production of eggs, which is needed in order to ovulate. As the follicle grows, it releases inhibin, which halts the production of FSH.
 

LH luteinizing hormone – causes ovulation.
 

Estrogen – one of the two principle female sex hormones responsible for triggering growth of the female reproductive system. In the first half of the menstrual cycle, this hormone stimulates the uterine wall to become richly supplied with blood.
 

Progesterone – an important ovarian hormone that is normally secreted after ovulation and during pregnancy. Progesterone triggers thickening of the lining of the uterus so it can accept implantation of a fertilized egg.
 

Hormonotherapy – hormone regulation with the help of medicine.
 

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection – is an in vitro fertilization procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg.
 

Infertility – is defined by World Health Organization (WHO) as the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected, well-timed intercourse, or the inability to carry a pregnancy to term. The Infertility definition is reduced to six months for: Women over 35, Women with a history of painful periods, irregular cycles, pelvic inflammatory disease and miscarriages and couples who know that the male partner has a low sperm count.
 

Insemination – is the deliberate introduction of sperm into the uterus of a mammal or the oviduct of an oviparous (egg-laying) animal for the objective of impregnating a female for reproduction. Insemination normally takes place during, and as the result of, sexual intercourse between a male and a female, when semen is ejaculated by the male into the female’s reproductive tract, but can take place in ways not involving sexual intercourse.