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Acrosome: Cap-like structure surrounding the anterior part of the spermatozoa head. It contains enzymes indispensable for the penetration into the egg vestments.
Adherences: Scar tissue forming after an inflammation, an operation or a haemorrhage that can disturb the normal function of internal organs.
Amenorrhoea: Absence of menstruation for a period of time between 3 to 6 months.
Amniocentesis: Analysis of the amniotic liquid; prenatal examination performed between the 14th and the 18th weeks of pregnancy in order to detect some anomalies of the foetus.
Androgen hormones: Mainly masculine sexual hormones but which are also produced in small quantities by the ovaries and the corticosurrenal gland.
Andrology: The science of diseases of the male sex, especially of those of the male reproduction organs, such as sterility and sexual dysfunctions.
Anovulation: Absence of ovulation. The menstrual cycles during which no ovulation occurs are called anovulatory. Periods can occur even when there is no ovulation.
Antibody: Protein produced by the body and reacting to foreign substances (anti-genes). A woman can produce antibodies against the sperm of her partner. In some cases, the man produces antibodies against his own sperm.
Assisted hatching: Mechanical, chemical or laser breaching of the coating (zona pellucida) surrounding the embryo. Also known as zona drilling.
Asthenozoospermia: Reduction of sperm motility. The spermatozoa are either still or slower than in normal sperm.
Atrophy: Reduction in the volume of an organ.
Azoospermia: Absence of sperm in the semen.
Basal temperature: Temperature taken straight at morning wake-up, before getting up.
Blastocyste: Early stage of embryo development At this stage the embryo is ready for implantation – around 7 days after the fertilization.
Capacitation reaction: Series of physiological and biochemical reactions during which the spermatozoa acquires its capacity to fertilize an oocyte. This process occurs naturally when the sperm enters the cervical mucus. It can also take place in vitro. In any case, this reaction is limited in time (a few hours at the most).
Catheter: Small tube introduced inside an organ.
Cervical mucus: Mucus secretion of the cervix allowing the migration of sperm cells towards the uterus and the fallopian tubes. The quantity and consistency of cervical mucus change at the time of ovulation in order to allow the sperm to reach the fallopian tubes where fertilization takes place.
Cervix: Lower part of the uterus close to the vagina, which secretes the alkaline cervical mucus protecting the sperm from the acidity in the vagina.
Chromosomes: Small bodies within the nucleus of every cell in the body, which contains the genes.
Clinical pregnancy: Ultrasound evidence of a foetal heart.
Clinical pregnancy rate: Rate calculated as a proportion of pregnancies with a beating heart for every 100-treatment cycle performed.
Clomifene Citrate: Substance with a structure similar to estrogens and used to induce the maturation of oocytes.
Congenital: Transmitted directly from the parents.
Congenital abnormalities: Malformations, deformities or diseases, either present at birth, or showing soon after birth, which are transmitted by the parents.
Corpus luteum: Results from the transformation of the follicular remains, after rupture of the follicle (ovulation). This newly formed structure is richly supplied with blood by the invasion of blood vessels. It produces increasing amounts of progesterone and estradiol. If no embryo is implanted, the production of both hormones drops again to the level of the beginning of the cycle as the corpus luteum degenerates. If an embryo is implanted, the corpus luteum is retained by the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) originating from the trophoblast cells of the young embryo.
Counselling: Discussion between the couple and a psychologist-counsellor, which aims to enable the patients to understand the implications of the treatment, to give emotional support and to help the patients cope with the consequences of the treatment.
Cryopreservation: Freezing of oocytes, sperm and embryos. This procedure, which highly contributes to the success rates of IVF, allows decreasing the risks of multiple pregnancies and avoids repeating the hormonal stimulation of the patient and the follicle puncture.
Cytoplasm: Material between the nucleus and the cell surface.
Cystic fibrosis: A disorder of the mucus-secreting glands of the lungs, the pancreas, the mouth and the gastrointestinal tract. The commonest serious genetic disease amongst Caucasian children.
Donor: Man who gives sperm or, woman who gives eggs to help another woman to become pregnant.
Donor insemination: Insemination of donor sperm (DI) into the vagina, the cervix or the womb itself.
Ectopic pregnancy: Extra uterine gestation. The fertilized oocyte implants outside the uterus and a gestation sac is identified in one of the fallopian tube, on the ovary or inside the abdominal cavity.
Egg: a female gamete.
Egg collection: Procedure by which eggs are collected from the woman's ovaries by using an ultrasound guided needle. Also known as egg retrieval.
Ejaculate: The ejaculate or semen is a thick substance containing the spermatozoa produced by the testes and the seminal plasma, nutritious medium secreted by the prostate (1/3) and the seminal vesicles (2/3). The normal volume varies from 2 to 5 ml of which only a small proportion (10%) is formed by the spermatozoa and 90% by the seminal plasma.
Embryo: A fertilized egg from the first division stage to eight weeks of development.
Embryo transfer (ET): Transfer of one or two embryos inside the uterus. The catheter containing the embryos is gently manoeuvred through the cervical canal and into the uterus. The length of the uterine cavity will usually have been measured before the treatment cycle so that the tip of the catheter can be placed about 1cm from the fungus. When the catheter is properly positioned, the embryos are slowly injected into the uterus. Then, the catheter is gently removed and the patient is allowed to rest in the bed for about 20 minutes before going home.
Endocrinal glands: Glands secreting hormones that are released in the blood stream and control the functions of organs. Amongst the endocrinal glands are the hypophysis and the gonads (ovaries and testis)
Endogen: Belonging to the body or developing inside the body.
Endometrial cycle: Cyclic modifications of the lining of the uterus (endometrium) caused by the hormones estradiol and progesterone and aimed at preparing the uterus for the implantation of an embryo.
Endometrium: Lining of the uterus, which covers the uterine cavity and the cervical channel. At the beginning of the cycle, the endometrium consists of a relatively thin layer of tissue containing glands and blood vessels. Under the influence of estradiol, the thickness of the endometrium increases (proliferate phase). Under the influence of progesterone, the properties of the endometrium change in such a way that it becomes suitable for the implantation of an embryo. One of the changes is the production of mucus by the glandular cells (secretory phase). In the absence of implantation, the endometrium disintegrates due to the reduction in the content of stimulating hormones (estradiol and progesterone). The endometrium is discharged resulting in the monthly bleeding (menstruation).
Endometriosis: A condition where endometrium (the lining of the uterus) is found in locations outside the uterus. This misplaced tissue may be found on the ovaries, uterus, bowel, bladder utero-sacral ligaments (ligaments that hold the uterus in place), or peritoneum (covering lining of the pelvis and abdominal cavity). On rare occasions it can be found in other distant sites.
Endoscope: An Endoscope is a device with a light attached, used to look inside the cavity of the body or organ. The scope is inserted through a natural opening, such as the mouth during a bronchoscopy, the rectum for a sigmoidoscopy, or the vagina for a cystoscopy. A medical procedure using any type of Endoscope is called endoscopy.
Endoscopy: Medical procedure using an Endoscope.
Exogene: Produced outside the body.
Fallopian tubes or oviducts: The tubes between the ovaries and the uterus. After release of the egg from one of the ovaries, the tube transports the egg to the uterus and the fertilization occurs inside the tube.
Fertilization: Fusion between an oocyte and a sperm cell; the natural fertilization takes place in the oviduct and the in vitro fertilization in the culture dish.
Foetus: This term is used for an embryo after the eighth week of development until birth.
Follicle: A small sac in the ovary in which the egg develops. The sac is full of liquid and it nourishes the egg during its maturation. During the ovulation, the follicle bursts open and the oocyte is expelled.
Follicular Maturation: Development of the follicle in the ovary.
Follicular punction: Aspiration of follicles to take the eggs
FSH: Follicle stimulating hormone. This protein hormone is produced as a result of chemical stimulation of the hypophysis by the nervous system. FSH stimulates the growth of the follicles in the ovaries of women and the spermatogenesis in men.
Gamete: Reproductive cell. The male sperm and the female egg are both gametes.
Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT): Procedure where the retrieved oocytes and the sperm preparation are transferred inside the fallopian tubes. The process of fertilization can occur during a more natural conception.
GIFT: Gamete intrafallopian transfer.
GnRH/LHRH: Gonadotropin releasing hormone. Hormone secreted by the hypothalamus, which regulates the production by the hypophysis of the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and the luteinizing hormone (LH).
Gonadotropins: Drugs used to stimulate the ovaries. The gonadotropin family includes FSH, LH and hCG.
Gonads: Sex glands (ovaries and testes) producing the reproductive cells or gametes (oocytes and spermatozoa).
hCG: Human chorionic gonadotropin. hCG is a hormone with an action similar to that of LH. It helps to ripen the eggs within the follicles and is thus administered to induce ovulation before the egg collection. The most important function of hCG is to maintain the corpus luteum and thus the production of estradiol and progesterone, steroid hormones which ensure the continuous growth of the uterine wall. The placenta also produces this hormone during pregnancy.
hMG: Human menopausal gonadotropins. Hormones obtained from the urine of menopause women, extracted then purified for their subsequent use in infertility treatments. This product contains the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and the luteinizing hormone (LH). hMG is used to stimulate the development of follicles.
Hormones: Molecules secreted by the endocrinal glands Hormones are chemical messengers, which regulate the metabolic functions of the system.
Hyperprolactinamie: Increased level of the hormone prolactine in the blood. Although stress remains the commonest cause of a rise in prolactine level, polycystic ovaries, psychotherapeutic medication and the pre-menopausal state have to be considered as well as the rare cases of a benign tumour of the hypophysis. Hyperprolactinamie is one of the causes of infertility.
Hypo fertility: Reduced fertility.
Hypophysis: Endocrinal gland situated in the lower part of the brain, which secretes hormones (FSH, LH) essential for the reproduction.
Hypothalamus: Gland situated at the back of the brain which secretes hormones in the blood and controls functions such as body temperature and appetite and the hormonal secretion of the hypophysis.
Hysterosalpingography: examination of the uterus and fallopian tubes by radiography after injection of an opaque medium -- called also uterosalpingography
Hysteroscopy: processed with a special Endoscope for the visual examination of the cervix and interior of the uterus.
ICSI: stands for Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection. Consists of intracytoplasmic injection of spermatozoa assisted by microscope, whereby one spermatozoon is directly injected in the egg. The ICSI treatment is indicated in cases of severe male infertility i.e. when only very few normal spermatozoa are found in the sperm or where there capacity is strongly reduced.
Implantation: the process of attachment of the embryo to the maternal uterine wall -- called also nidation
In vitro: Latin expression meaning "in a glass" – outside the living body and in an artificial environment
IVF or in vitro fertilization: Fertilisation taking place outside the body and for which several follicles are matured with gonadotropin injections. The mature oocytes are taken out of the ovaries and 4 to 6 hours later are mixed with the partner's sperm. To allow for the first embryonic division to take place, the fertilized oocytes are maintained 24 to 48 hours in a protected environment inside an incubator. The embryos are then transferred inside the patient's uterus where they have to implant.
In vivo: "In the body", as opposed to processes applied in the laboratory.
Induction of the ovulation: Start/trigger of the ovulation. The ovulation may be triggered by means of medication, hCG for instance. Sometimes, the terms trigger of the ovulation is also used as synonym for ovarian stimulator.
Infecundity: The fact of being childless (failing to produce or incapable of producing a child).
Infertility: Incapable of or unsuccessful in achieving pregnancy over a considerable period of time (as a year) in spite of determined attempts by heterosexual intercourse without contraception.
Heterologous insemination: Insemination with donor sperm introduced in the uterus (see insemination).
Homologous insemination: Husband’s/partner’s sperm is introduced in the uterus (see insemination).
Insemination: to introduce semen (spermatozoa) into the genital tract of (a female). By means of a catheter, the prepared sperm is introduced at the entrance of the uterus or directly in the uterus. The insemination can be processed with partner or donor sperm.
Intrauterine: Inside the uterus.
Laparoscopy: See Endoscopy.
Leydig cells: Cells laying in between the somniferous tubules (responsible for the production of gametes), which secrete male sexual hormones; in particular testosterone.
LH: Luteinizing hormone. Hormone triggering, on one hand, the expulsion of the egg by the follicle and stimulating, on the other hand, the production of progesterone by the yellow body.
LHRH: See liberating hormone of the gonadotropin.
LPMA: Law text on medically assisted procreation called: Loi sur la Procréation Médicalement Assistée.
Membrane: A semi permeable limiting layer of cell protoplasm consisting of a fluid phospholipid bilayer with intercalated proteins -- called also cell membrane, plasmalemma
Menopause: The natural cessation of menstruation occurring usually between the ages of 45 and 55 with a mean in Western cultures of approximately 51. Physiological period in the life of a woman in which such cessation and the accompanying regression of ovarian function occurs -- called also climacteric
Menstruation: A discharging of blood, secretions, and tissue debris from the uterus that recurs in non-pregnant human and other primate females of breeding age at approximately monthly intervals and that is considered to represent a readjustment of the uterus to the non-pregnant state following proliferative changes accompanying the preceding ovulation
MESA: "Microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration". Microsurgical sperm aspiration, directly in the epididymal (long tubular circumvented structure in which the spermatozoa are stored). The recuperated spermatozoa are used for the intracytoplasmic injection (ICSI).
Microinjection: Injection under the microscope; specifically: injection especially by a micropipette into a tissue or a single cell. Aims at various recent methods of assisted reproduction, in cases where the spermatozoa represent severe anomalies: introduction of the spermatozoa directly in the egg.
Morphology: the form and structure of an organism or any of its parts.
Motility: Capacity of moving spermatozoa
Myome: Harmless tumour in the muscle of uterus muscle.
Nidation: The development of the epithelial membrane lining the inner surface of the uterus following menstruation.
Normozoospermy: Quantity, form and normal mobility of the spermatozoa.
Oestradiol: See estrogens.
Oestrogen: Group of female hormones produced essentially by the ovaries. The estrogens are responsible for the development of female physical characters. The make sure that the uterine mucous membrane gets ready for the nidation of the fecund egg. They rule the secretion of the FSH and LH and reinforce the impact of the other important sexual hormone: the progesterone (ex estradiol).
OHSS: See Syndrome of ovarian hyperstimulation
Oligomenorrhea: abnormally infrequent or scanty menstrual flow
Oligozoospermia: Abnormal low quantity of spermatozoa in the seminal liquid.
OMS: = WHO = World Health Organization
OPU: Oocyte Pick-Up
OTA Syndrome: Combination of oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia.
Ovaries: One of the typically paired essential female reproductive organs that produce eggs and in vertebrates female sex hormones, that occur in the adult human as oval flattened bodies about one and a half inches (four centimetres) long suspended from the dorsal surface of the broad ligament of either side, that arise from the mesonephros, and that consist of a vascular fibrous stroma enclosing developing egg cells
Ovocyte: An egg before maturation: a female gametocyte -- called also oocyte. Upon birth, the ovaries contain 1 to 2 million ovocytes; at puberty, only 400 000 to 500 000 remain. Only 400 to 500 will reach maturity/at ovulation – one each month – until menopause. The others degenerate at different development stages.
Ovoplasm: The cytoplasm of an unfertilised egg
Ovarian Stimulation: Medical treatment, for instance by means of FSH Exogene, in order to stimulate the follicular growth and development.
Ovulation: The discharge of a mature ovum from the ovary. Happens normally in the midst on the menstrual cycle.
Perivitelline space: Space between the ooplasm and the zona pellucida.
Placenta: The vascular organ in mammals except monotremes and marsupials that unites the foetus to the maternal uterus and mediates its metabolic exchanges through a more or less intimate association of uterine mucosal with chorionic and usually allantoic tissues permitting exchange of material by diffusion between the maternal and foetal vascular systems but without direct contact between maternal and foetal blood and typically involving the interlocking of fingerlike vascular chorionic vile with corresponding modified areas of the uterine mucosa
PMA: Medically assisted procreation.
Polycystic ovaries: A variable disorder that is marked especially by amenorrhoea, hirsutism, obesity, infertility, and ovarian enlargement and is usually initiated by an elevated level of luteinizing hormone, androgen, or estrogens which results in an abnormal cycle of gonadotropin release by the pituitary gland -- abbreviation PCOS; called also polycystic ovarian disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, polycystic ovary disease, Stein-Leventhal syndrome
Punction: Taking the egg
Post-coital test (PCT): Examination of cervical mucus after intercourse for quality and behaviour of the sperm. Presence of a good number of motile spermatozoa a few hours after intercourse provides direct evidence that cervical mucus hostility is not the cause of infertility.
Primary Sterility: See sterility
Progesterone: Female sexual hormone, secreted by the yellow body after ovulation. Its task is to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. Later during the pregnancy, it is the placenta that will take over the production of this hormone.
Prolactine: Hormone secreted by the hypophysis, stimulating the milk production in the breasts.
Reproductive cells: Oocytes and spermatozoa.
Sertoli cells: Cells located in the somniferous tubules (responsible for production of gametes), which support the spermatozoa during their maturation.
SHO: See Syndrome of ovarian hyperstimulation
Sonography: See Echography
Spermatogensis: the process of male gamete formation including formation of a primary spermatocyte from a spermatogonium, meiotic division of the spermatocyte, and transformation of the four resulting spermatids into spermatozoa
Spermatozoon: A motile male gamete of an animal usually with rounded or elongate head and a long posterior flagellum Cellule reproductive.
Sperm: the male impregnating fluid (semen).
Sperm analysis: Examination of the sperm under the microscope to determine the number of spermatozoa in millions per millilitre or cubic centimetre, and to check their shape, size and motility.
Sterility: Not fertile; incapable of or unsuccessful in achieving pregnancy over a considerable period of time (as a year) in spite of determined attempts by heterosexual intercourse without contraception <infertile couples> <an infertile male with a low sperm count> <an infertile female with blocked fallopian tubes>
Secondary Sterility: Incapacity to conceive a child or reach full term pregnancy after one or more preceding childbirths.
Syndrome of ovarian hyperstimulation (OHSS, SHO): Affection that might occur in rare cases, upon the induction of the ovulation. The symptoms of hyperstimulation could be the following: increase in ovary volume, accumulation of liquid in the belly, gastro-intestinal troubles, and weight gain. In bas cases, serious long and cardiovascular problems might appear and impose hospitalisation.
Teratozoospermia: The sperm contains a very little number of spermatozoa with normal morphology.
TESE: Testicular sperm extraction. Microsurgical technique to retrieve sperm cells from tissue samples (biopsies) of the testes. The spermatozoa obtained by TESE are prepared and used to fertilize the oocytes with the ICSI technique. TESE is used when the male partner has no sperm cells in the semen (azoospermia). In half the cases, sperm production by the testes is normal but there is a blockage, which prevents sperm entering the sperm (obstructive azoospermia).
Testicular dysfunction: Impaired functioning of the testis. There is a dysfunction when the testis are not able to produce a sufficient number of mature spermatozoa and if the level of hormones (LH, FSH) required to produce the sperm is increased excessively.
Testis: Masculine genital paired organ, which is formed high in the abdominal cavity and descends into the scrotum just before birth. The testis secretes the sex hormone testosterone and produces the male gametes, the spermatozoa.
Testicular biopsy: See TESA.
Testosterone: Masculine sex hormone produced by the testes and the corticosurrenal gland. Testosterone plays the most important part in the formation of spermatozoa. This hormone enters the blood stream and in this way reaches the whole body where it leads to the development of visible male characteristics and in the brain where it stimulates masculine behaviour. The production of testosterone depends on the availability of the gonadotropin LH.
Thyroid: Gland situated under the larynx and secreting hormones, which play an important role in growth, development and metabolism. A functional problem of this gland in women can disturb the reproductive cycle.
Treatment cycle: Hormonal treatment of the menstrual cycle.
TSH: Thyroid stimulating hormone. Hormone secreted by the hypophysis to control the thyroid gland.
Turner’s Syndrome: A genetically determined condition that is typically associated with the presence of only one complete X chromosome and no Y chromosome and with characteristics including a female phenotype, underdeveloped and usually infertile ovaries, absence of menstrual onset, short stature, excess skin about the neck, cubitus valgus, aortic coarctation, and a low hairline on the back of the neck
Ultrasound: Investigation using sound waves to make a picture of the womb and ovaries appear on a television screen. Method used to monitor egg development. Ultrasound is also used in egg collection. The ultrasound microphone can be inserted inside the vagina (vaginal ultrasound) or simply manipulated over the belly.
Uterus: Organ in the shape of a pear, which contains the foetus during the pregnancy. It contracts at birth to expel the foetus.
Uterine mucous membrane: see endometrium
Vaginal: Relating to the vagina.
Varicocele: Presence of varicosities on the testicles, which lead to a reduction in testicular size and impairment of spermatogenesis.
Venereal disease: a contagious disease (as gonorrhea or syphilis) that is typically acquired in sexual intercourse -- abbreviation VD. This type of deceases is curable by seeing a doctor at the early stage. When these diseases are not properly taken care off, they can be the cause of sterility for men and for women.
ZIFT: Zygote intrafallopian transfer.
Zygote: Fertilized oocyte.
Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT): Procedure where the fertilized embryos (zygotes) are replaced inside the fallopian tube, thereby reproducing a physiological step in "in vivo" fertilization.
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