ART: Acronym for Assisted Reproductive Technologies, defined by many to mean the handling
outside the body of both egg and sperm. This definition is the used by the United States Center
for Disease Control (CDC), who has the mission of tracking and monitoring fertility clinics in the
United States.
Blastocyst: An embryo that has developed for approximately five days after fertilization. At this
point the embryo has two different cell types and a central cavity. The surface cells
(trophectoderm) will become the placenta, and the inner cell mass will become the fetus
(baby).
Ectopic Pregnancy: A pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus. The developing embryo
implants and grows in a location other than inside the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies often take
place in the fallopian tube.
Endometriosis: is a gynecological condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus
(endometrium) appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the
membrane which lines the abdominal cavity, the peritoneum.
Embryo: The developing baby in the early stages of fetal growth, from conception to the eighth
week of pregnancy. In infertility treatments this term is restricted to mean a fertilized egg,
between 1 and 5 days old, used in IVF treatments. See also Blastocyst.
Fallopian tube: Anatomical structures attached to the uterus where eggs pass on their way to
the uterus from their origin in the follicle of the ovary. In the course of ART, fertilized eggs (at
times termed zygotes) are commonly placed here rather than directly in the uterus. Eggs are
naturally fertilized in the fallopian tube.
Fibroids: are non-cancerous growths in the womb (uterus).
Fecundity: 1. characterized by having produced many offspring 2: capable of producing: not
sterile or barren
Gamete: in the case of the male, this would be a sperm cell, in the case of a female this would
be the egg or ova
Gestational surrogate (also called a gestational carrier [GC] or uterine carrier): is an individual
in which embryos created by the intended parents are transferred into the surrogate’s uterus,
which has been prepared hormonally to carry a pregnancy. The gestational surrogate has no
genetic link to the baby she is carrying because she did not use her egg.
GIFT: Gamete Intrafallopian tube Transfer is when the eggs are removed from the ovaries and
are placed in the fallopian tubes along with the sperm
.
ICSI: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection is the process in an in vitro fertilization in which a single,
viable, sperm is injected into the egg.
IVF: In-Vitro Fertilization is the fertilization of the egg by the sperm outside of the body. In
Vitro, literally translated from Latin, means in glass. The fertilized egg is then implanted into
the uterus.
Infecundity: is the condition where the woman has the ability to conceive (have egg fertilized),
but is not able to carry the baby to term.
Nulliparous: a term meaning a woman has never had a child.
Ovum: The egg; the reproductive cell from the ovary; the female gamete; the sex cell that
contains the woman's genetic information.
Oocyte: The egg cell produced in the ovaries. Also called the ovum or gamete.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): is a condition characterized by the accumulation of
numerous cysts (fluid-filled sacs) on the ovaries
Retrograde ejaculation: a condition in which sperm are ejaculated into the bladder instead of
out of the penis
Semen: The fluid portion of the ejaculate consisting of secretions from the seminal vesicles,
prostate gland, and several other glands in the male reproductive tract. The semen provides
nourishment and protection for the sperm and a medium in which the sperm can travel to the
woman's vagina. Semen may also refer to the entire ejaculate, including the sperm.
Sperm: The microscopic cell that carries the male's genetic information to the female's egg; the male reproductive cell; the male gamete. When ejaculation occurs the sperm are discharged in a fluid called semen.
Surrogate: A woman who agrees to carry (gestate) a child for another couple (intended
parents) or individual. Note; a gestational surrogate does not use her eggs and hence is not
genetically related to the child. The stricter preferred medical term is gestational carrier.
Surrogacy: An arrangement where another woman is hired to carry the child (gestate) for
another couple (intended parents) or individual.
Third Party Reproduction: refers to the use of eggs, sperm, or embryos donated by a third
person (donor) to enable an infertile individual or couple (intended parent) to have a child.
Donors of eggs or sperm may be known or anonymous to the intended parents. Third-party
reproduction also includes traditional surrogacy and gestational carrier arrangements.
Traditional Surrogacy: is when a woman is inseminated with sperm for the purpose of
conceiving for an intended recipient (intended parents). The surrogate in this scenario has a
genetic and biological link to the baby she carries as her egg was used.
Varicocele: A varicocele (physical structure) is like varicose veins of the small veins next to one
testis or both testes. It usually causes no symptoms.
ZIFT: Zygote intrafallopian tube transfer is when the developing embryo (termed zygote in the
first few days) is placed in the fallopian tube.
Zygote: A fertilized egg, or embryo, in the early stages of development. It is multicellular and of
a development stage prior to being a blastocyst.
Comments