Fertility from A to Z.

A

Ambulatory (outpatient)

Without a hospital stay.

Androgens

Male hormones.

Assisted hatching

“Hatching assistance” – the outer shell of the embryo (zona pellucida) is scored to facilitate implantation. More about assisted hatching.

D

Down regulation

“Regulating down” – the body’s own hormone production is deliberately reduced by administering medication.

E

Ovaries

Paired organs of the woman, about 2 cm in size, in which oocytes (eggs) are produced. The ovaries also produce oestrogen and progestogen.

Fallopian tubes

Delicate tube-shaped organs that receive the egg and in which fertilisation takes place; responsible for the onward transport of the fertilised egg into the uterus.

Ectopic (tubal) pregnancy

Implantation of a fertilised egg in the fallopian tube instead of in the lining of the uterus.

Ovulation

The mature egg leaves the follicle and is received by the fallopian tube.

Embryo transfer

Placing the fertilised egg (embryo) into the uterus after assisted fertilisation.

Endometriosis

The presence of uterine lining tissue outside the uterus. Endometriosis is a common cause of childlessness. The condition can lead to scarring of the affected organs. The most common symptom is severe pain, often starting even before menstrual bleeding begins. More about endometriosis.

F

Follicle

Fluid-filled vesicle in the ovary in which the egg matures.

Follicular puncture (egg retrieval)

Aspiration of the follicular fluid using a very fine hollow needle in order to retrieve the egg.

FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)

Hormone that promotes the growth of follicles in the ovary.

G

Uterus (womb)

Pear-shaped organ in which the embryo grows. The uterus consists of the cervix (which partly extends into the vagina) and the uterine cavity.

Endometrium (uterine lining)

Hormone-dependent mucous membrane lining the uterine cavity. It changes over the course of the cycle and is shed with menstrual bleeding. At the time of implantation it is thick and well supplied with blood.

Corpus luteum

Forms from the remains of the follicle. This is where the hormones are produced that play an important pregnancy-sustaining role in early pregnancy. The name refers to its yellowish colour.

GnRH

Gonadotropin-releasing hormones. They trigger the release of FSH and LH.

GnRH agonist

Medications that inhibit the release of LH and FSH.

GnRH antagonist

Directed against the action of GnRH. The release of the hormones FSH and LH is thereby prevented.

H

HIV infection

A viral disease that leads to a weakening of the immune system.

HMG (human menopausal gonadotropin)

Human menopausal hormone. It is obtained from the urine of menopausal women and used to stimulate the ovaries.

Hormones

Messenger substances between the organs.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)

Pregnancy hormone produced by the yolk sac of the embryo. It can be detected in blood and urine and is used to confirm a pregnancy. Because of its similarity to LH, the hormone that triggers ovulation, synthetically produced HCG is used for ovulation induction in IVF.

I

ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)

A form of assisted fertilisation in which a single sperm is injected into the egg using a hollow needle. More about ICSI.

IUI (intrauterine insemination)

Injection of sperm into the uterine cavity using a very thin, flexible catheter. The distance between egg and sperm cells is thus “shortened”. More about insemination.

IVF (in vitro fertilisation)

Fertilisation taking place “in glass (a dish)” – fertilisation outside the body. More about IVF.

K

Cryopreservation

Deep-freezing of embryos and sperm. More about cryopreservation.

L

LH (luteinising hormone)

Hormone responsible for ovulation.

Luteal phase support

The luteal phase is the time between ovulation and the onset of menstrual bleeding. It is during this time that the embryo implants. The key hormone in this phase is progesterone. If it is too low, this is referred to as luteal insufficiency. In such cases the hormone can additionally be administered orally as support.

M

Fibroid (myoma)

A growth in the uterus, consisting of muscle tissue, that occurs in many women. Fibroids can sometimes be the cause of persistent infertility.

O

Oestrogen

Female sex hormone responsible for building up the lining of the uterus.

P

PCO (polycystic ovary)

Ovary containing many small follicles that do not mature. More about PMOS (formerly PCO syndrome).

Placenta

The organ that supplies the child with nutrients; after the birth of the child it is expelled from the uterus as the “afterbirth”.

Progesterone

Hormone produced by the corpus luteum. It prepares the uterine lining for implantation and has a pregnancy-sustaining effect in early pregnancy.

Prolactin

Hormone produced in the pituitary gland that controls the flow of milk. When this hormone is elevated, ovulation cannot take place.

R

Rubella (German measles)

A viral infectious disease that can cause severe harm to the child during pregnancy.

S

Sterilisation

Deliberately induced infertility by surgically severing the fallopian tubes or the vas deferens.

Sterility

Infertility. If no pregnancy occurs after one year of regular unprotected intercourse (2–3 times a week), this is referred to as sterility. More about the causes.

T

TESE / MESA

A way of retrieving sperm directly from the testicle or epididymis when no sperm are present in the ejaculate. More about testicular sperm extraction.

TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)

Hormone that regulates the release of thyroid hormone.