Infertility Glossary - Commonly Used Terms and Definitions
As you go through infertility testing and treatment, you’ll probably come across a number of words that you’ve never heard before. Knowing the terminology can help you ask better questions when speaking to your doctor, and help you as you research the topic on your own. From azoospermia to zygote, this glossary of infertility terms is here to help.
Fertile Window
What is your fertile window? How can it help you get pregnant? Learn what your fertile window is in this definition.
What is your fertile window? How can it help you get pregnant? Learn what your fertile window is in this definition.
Egg Retrieval
What is egg retrieval? How is it done during IVF treatment? Learn more here.
What is egg retrieval? How is it done during IVF treatment? Learn more here.
Recombinant DNA Technology
What is recombinant DNA technology? And how does it apply to fertility drugs? Learn more about recombinant DNA technology here.
What is recombinant DNA technology? And how does it apply to fertility drugs? Learn more about recombinant DNA technology here.
Anovulation
What is Anovulation?
What is Anovulation?
ART
What is ART?
What is ART?
Azoospermia
What is Azoospermia?
What is Azoospermia?
Basal Body Temperature
What is your basal body temperature? Find out the definition of body basal body temperature, and also learn how charting your BBT can help you get pregnant.
What is your basal body temperature? Find out the definition of body basal body temperature, and also learn how charting your BBT can help you get pregnant.
Cervical Mucus
What is cervical mucus (also known as cervical fluid), and what does it have to do with infertility and getting pregnant? Read a definition here.
What is cervical mucus (also known as cervical fluid), and what does it have to do with infertility and getting pregnant? Read a definition here.
Cervix
What is a cervix? Read the definition here.
What is a cervix? Read the definition here.
Corpus Luteum
What is the corpus luteum? What job does it have in the menstrual cycle? Learn more about the corpus luteum here.
What is the corpus luteum? What job does it have in the menstrual cycle? Learn more about the corpus luteum here.
Embryo
What is an Embryo?
What is an Embryo?
Endometriosis
What is Endometriosis?
What is Endometriosis?
Endometrium
What is the endometrium, and what is its role in the reproductive system? Learn more here.
What is the endometrium, and what is its role in the reproductive system? Learn more here.
Estradiol
What is estradiol? Learn here.
What is estradiol? Learn here.
Estrogen
What is estrogen? What is its role in the reproductive system, and how does it affect ovulation? Learn more about estrogen in this definition.
What is estrogen? What is its role in the reproductive system, and how does it affect ovulation? Learn more about estrogen in this definition.
Fallopian Tubes
What are the fallopian tubes? What is their role in the reproductive system? Learn more about the fallopian tubes here.
What are the fallopian tubes? What is their role in the reproductive system? Learn more about the fallopian tubes here.
Female Factor Infertility
What is Female Factor Infertility?
What is Female Factor Infertility?
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
What is Follicle Stimulating Hormone(FSH)?
What is Follicle Stimulating Hormone(FSH)?
Follicle
What is a follicle? What is the role of a follicle during ovulation? Find out in this definition.
What is a follicle? What is the role of a follicle during ovulation? Find out in this definition.
Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)
What is GIFT?
What is GIFT?
Gamete
What is a Gamete?
What is a Gamete?
GnRH Agonists
What are GnRH agonists? What are their role in your fertility treatment? Learn more about GnRH agonists here.
What are GnRH agonists? What are their role in your fertility treatment? Learn more about GnRH agonists here.
GnRH Antagonists
What are GnRH antagonists? What are their role in fertility treatments? Learn more about GnRH antagonists here.
What are GnRH antagonists? What are their role in fertility treatments? Learn more about GnRH antagonists here.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)
What is Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)? What role does it play in the reproductive system? Learn more about GnRH here.
What is Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)? What role does it play in the reproductive system? Learn more about GnRH here.
Gonadotropins
What are gonadotropins? What do they do in your body? Learn the definition of gonadotropins here.
What are gonadotropins? What do they do in your body? Learn the definition of gonadotropins here.
Hostile Cervical Mucus
What is a hostile cervical mucus, and how does it impact infertility? Read a definition here.
What is a hostile cervical mucus, and how does it impact infertility? Read a definition here.
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
What is an HSG (Hysterosalpingogram)?
What is an HSG (Hysterosalpingogram)?
ICSIs
What is ICSIs?
What is ICSIs?
Injectables
What are injectables? How are injectables administered? What are the risks of injectables? Find out in this definition.
What are injectables? How are injectables administered? What are the risks of injectables? Find out in this definition.
IUI
What is IUI?
What is IUI?
IVF
What is IVF?
What is IVF?
Luteal Phase
What is the luteal phase, and how long on average is the luteal phase?
What is the luteal phase, and how long on average is the luteal phase?
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
What is LH (Luteinizing Hormone)?
What is LH (Luteinizing Hormone)?
Male Factor Infertility
What is Male Factor Infertility?
What is Male Factor Infertility?
Menstruation
What is menstruation, and what happens during menstruation? Learn about menstruation in this definition.
What is menstruation, and what happens during menstruation? Learn about menstruation in this definition.
Oligospermia
What is Oligospermia?
What is Oligospermia?
Oocyte
What is an oocyte? Learn what an oocyte is in this definition.
What is an oocyte? Learn what an oocyte is in this definition.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)
What is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)? What causes ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and what are the symptoms? Learn more about ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in this definition.
What is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)? What causes ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and what are the symptoms? Learn more about ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in this definition.
Ovary
What is an ovary? How many eggs are women born with? Learn more about the ovary, including the hormones secreted by the ovaries, in this definition.
What is an ovary? How many eggs are women born with? Learn more about the ovary, including the hormones secreted by the ovaries, in this definition.
Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPK))
What is an ovulation predictor kit (OPK)?
What is an ovulation predictor kit (OPK)?
Ovulation
What is ovulation? How does ovulation happen? Learn more about ovulation in this definition.
What is ovulation? How does ovulation happen? Learn more about ovulation in this definition.
Ovum
What is an ovum? Learn more in this definition.
What is an ovum? Learn more in this definition.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
What is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)? How is related to infertility, and what are common symptoms? Learn in this definition of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
What is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)? How is related to infertility, and what are common symptoms? Learn in this definition of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
Poor Ovarian Reserves
What are poor ovarian reserves? How is it diagnosed? Learn more about poor ovarian reserves here.
What are poor ovarian reserves? How is it diagnosed? Learn more about poor ovarian reserves here.
Progesterone
What is Progesterone?
What is Progesterone?
Reproductive Endocrinologist
What is a reproductive endocrinologist? Find out here.
What is a reproductive endocrinologist? Find out here.
Saliva Ferning Kit
What is a saliva ferning kit? And how can it help you get pregnant?
What is a saliva ferning kit? And how can it help you get pregnant?
Secondary Infertility
What is secondary infertility? Learn more here.
What is secondary infertility? Learn more here.
Sperm Morphology
What is Sperm Morphology?
What is Sperm Morphology?
Superovulation
What is superovulation? Why is it done, and what are the risks? Learn more about superovulation in this definition.
What is superovulation? Why is it done, and what are the risks? Learn more about superovulation in this definition.
Zygote
What is a Zygote?
What is a Zygote?