Infertility Glossary of Terms

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Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the...

Alcoholism: Physical dependence on alcohol to the extent that stopping alcohol use would b...

Analysis: In psychology, a term for conversation-based therapeutic processes used to gain ...

Anorexia: An eating disorder characterized by markedly reduced appetite or total aversion...

Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to check for ...

Birth control: Birth control is the use of any practices, methods, or devices to prevent p...

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

Bulimia: Also called bulimia nervosa. An eating disorder characterized by episodes of secr...

Catheter: A thin, flexible tube.

Cervical: Having to do with any kind of neck, including the neck on which the head is perc...

Cervix: The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb). The uterus, a hollow, ...

Chlamydia: The agent of a sexually transmitted disease, a type of bacteria found in the ce...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Cocaine: A substance derived from the leaves of the coca plant that is a bitter, addictive...

Conception: 1. The union of the sperm and the ovum. Synonymous with fertilization.
...

Congenital: A condition that is present at birth, whether or not it is inherited.

Contrast: Short for "contrast media." Contrast media are X-ray dyes used to provide contra...

Cuts: Severed skin. Washing a cut or scrape with soap and water and keeping it clean and d...

Cysts: Cysts are abnormal, closed sac-like structures within a tissue that contain a liqui...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Discharge: 1.The flow of fluid from part of the body, such as from the nose or vag...

Donor: The giver of a tissue or an organ, such as a blood donor or kidney donor.

Egg donor: A woman who provides her own eggs for another woman or couple to use in creati...

Ejaculation: Ejection of sperm and seminal fluid during an orgasm in a male.

Embryo: An organism in the early stages of growth and differentiation, from fertilization ...

Endocrinology: The study of the medical aspects of hormones, including diseases and condit...

Endometrial biopsy: A common procedure for sampling the inner lining of the uterus (the en...

Endometriosis: The presence of tissue that normally grows inside the uterus (womb) in an ...

Endometrium: The inner layer of the uterus.

Estrogen: A female steroid hormone that is produced by the ovaries and, in lesser amounts,...

Fallopian tube: One of the two Fallopian tubes that transport the egg from the ovary to th...

Family history: The family structure and relationships within the family, including inform...

Fertile: Able to conceive and bear offspring. Also known as fecund.

Fertility: The ability to conceive and bear children, the ability to become pregnant throu...

Fertilization: The process of combining the male gamete, or sperm, with the female gamete,...

Fetus: An unborn offspring, from the embryo stage (the end of the eighth week after concep...

Fibroid: A common benign tumor of the uterus. Fibroids can be present without symptoms. Ho...

Fibroids: Fibroids are common, benign tumors of smooth muscle in the uterus (womb). Uterin...

Genital: Pertaining to the external and/or internal organs of reproduction.

Gonorrhea: A bacterial infection that is transmitted by sexual contact. Gonorrhea is one o...

Gynecologist: A physician who specializes in treating diseases of the female reproductive ...

Gynecology: The branch of medicine that is particularly concerned with the health of the f...

Heroin: Semisynthetic drug derived from morphine. Discovered in 1874, it was introduced co...

HIV: Acronym for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodefi...

Hormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activit...

Hysteroscopy: A procedure to see inside the uterus (the womb) using a viewing scope that i...

ICSI: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Implant: 1. To embed; to set in firmly. In embryology, the fertilized egg implants ...

Impotence: A common problem among men characterized by the consistent inability to sustai...

In vitro: In glass, as in a test tube. An in vitro test is one that is done in glass or pl...

In vitro fertilization: A laboratory procedure in which sperm are put in a special dish wi...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Infertile: Not able to conceive after a year of regular intercourse without contraception.

Infertility: Diminished or absent ability to conceive and bear offspring. A couple is cons...

Insemination: The deposition of semen in the female reproductive tract. With sexual interc...

Intrauterine: In the uterus.

IVF: In vitro fertilization.

Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a...

Laparoscopy: A type of surgery in which small incisions are made in the abdominal wall thr...

Magnetic resonance imaging: A procedure that uses magnetism, radio waves, and a computer t...

Marijuana: A common street and recreational drug that comes from the marijuana plant: the ...

Medical history: 1. In clinical medicine, the patient's past and present which may ...

Menstrual: Pertaining to menstruation (the menses), as in last menstrual period, menstrua...

Menstrual cycle: The monthly cycle of changes in the ovaries and the lining of the uteru...

MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.

Mucus: A thick fluid that is produced by the lining of some organs of the body.

Nicotine: An alkaloid (a nitrogen-containing chemical) made by the tobacco plant or produc...

Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

Obstetrics: The art and science of managing pregnancy, labor, and the puerperium (the time...

Ovarian: Of or pertaining to the ovary.

Ovulation: The release of the ripe egg (ovum) from the ovary. The egg is released when the...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pelvic: Having to do with the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen, located between the h...

Pelvic exam: An examination of the organs of the female reproductive system.

Pelvic pain: : Pain perceived in the area of the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen loc...

Pelvis: The lower part of the abdomen, located between the hip bones. Structures in the fe...

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Primary care: A patient's main source for regular medical care, ideally providing continui...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Pulse: The rhythmic dilation of an artery that results from beating of the heart. Pulse is...

Radiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy ...

Recurrent: Appearing or occurring again. For example, a recurrent fever is a fever that ha...

Referral: The recommendation of a medical or paramedical professional. If you get a refer...

Reproduction: The production of offspring. Reproduction need not be sexual; for example, y...

Reproductive system: In women, the organs that are directly involved in producing eggs and...

Saline: Relating to salt. As an adjective, "saline" means "salty, containing salt." As a n...

Scan: As a noun, the data or image obtained from the examination of organs or regions of...

Semen: The fluid that is released through the penis during orgasm. Semen is made up of flu...

Sperm: A sperm is the male "gamete" or sex cell. It combines with the female &qu...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Synthesis: Putting together different entities to make a whole which is new and different....

Testicles: The testicles (also called testes or gonads) are the male sex glands. They are ...

Testosterone: A "male hormone" -- a sex hormone produced by the testes that encourages th...

Thyroid: 1. The thyroid gland. Also, pertaining to the thyroid gland. 2. A p...

Tobacco: A South American herb (Nicotiana tabacum) whose leaves contain 2 to 8 percent nic...

Tubes: The "tubes" are medically known as the Fallopian tubes. There are two Fallopian tub...

Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves. Ultra-sound waves can be bounced off tissues by us...

Uterine fibroids: Uterine fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus (the womb). They are th...

Uterine lining: The inner layer of the uterus (womb); the cells that line the womb; anatom...

Uterus: A hollow, pear-shaped organ that is located in a woman's lower abdomen, between th...

Weight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (die...

Womb: The womb (uterus) is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located in a woman's lower abdomen ...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...