Glossary

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A

Adhesion
Scar composed of band-like tissue, attached to organ surfaces, capable of connecting, covering or distorting organs, such as tubes, ovaries, uterus, and bowel

Alkaline, Alkali, Alkalinity
A chemical substance that is soluble in water, neutralizes acids and forms salts with them. An alkali has a pH above 7 and turns red litmus paper blue

Amenorrhea
Absence of menstruation

Androgens
Refers to male reproductive hormones, such as testosterone. These hormones may be produced in excess by the female in certain conditions such as PCOS

Aneuploid
An embryo with the wrong number of chromosomes. Aneuploidy is nearly always incompatible with life, and is the cause of most early miscarriages

Anovulation, Anovulatory Cycle
The state of not ovulating or a fertility cycle without ovulation. An anovulatory cycle may happen due to various factors; menopause, stress, exercise, travel, illness and drugs etc. Generally, it is not a cause for concern, however, consult your doctor should it happens frequently

Anti-sperm antibody test
A test in which the blood of the female partner and her partner's semen are examined to detect antibodies to sperm. Antibodies can contribute to infertility

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART)
A collective name for advanced infertility treatments utilizing in-vitro techniques to assist with gamete handling and fertilization. Includes in-vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET) gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) and tubal embryo transfer (TET), intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and assisted hatching

B

Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
The Basal Body Temperature (BBT) method measures variations in body temperature to determine when ovulation has occurred. Normally, body temperature decreases slightly just before ovulation and begins to rise for several days afterward. The temperature remains slightly elevated until menstruation begins. With this method, a woman takes her temperature every morning before getting out of bed using a basal thermometer, which has an expanded scale to show slight changes in temperature between 36C (96F) and 38C (100F). The name ‘basal’ is derived from the fact it is a measurement of the ‘base’ temperature ie. when one is at rest or under as little stress as possible

Biochemical pregnancy
A pregnancy with the presence of the hormone HCG, in the blood , where no fetus develops by ultrasound, and the pregnancy stops developing very early

Blastocyst
Multi-cellular embryo that is seen five to six days after fertilization

Blastomere
A cell in an embryo. Each cell in an embryo is identical, because the cells have not yet begun the process of differentiation, where they become the various tissues and organs of the body

C

Carrier
In terms of an inherited genetic disorder, a "carrier" is a person who carries the gene for a disease, but because the gene is recessive, does not actually have the disease. A child of the carrier may have the disease, be a carrier, or neither

Cervix
Neck of the womb, consisting of a narrow passage leading to the vagina

Cervical Mucus (CM)
Clear slimy lubricating substance secreted by Cervix that serves several purposes in human reproduction: 1. as a natural lubricant to facilitate sexual intercourse 2. provides nutrients for sperm to live for up to 4-5 days 3. provides sperm with a conductive environment to travel to the fallopian tubes Cervical mucus is the principal element enabling conception to take place. Without its presence, sperm would die within a few hours

Chromosome
Found inside the nucleus of a cell, a chromosome is a package of DNA. DNA, in turn, contains genes, which contain all the instructions for cells to create and maintain your body

Clinical pregnancy
A pregnancy confirmed by an increasing level of the pregnancy hormone HCG and the presence of a gestational sac detected by ultrasound

Clinical Trial
A clinical study, approved and monitored by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), designed for the purpose of evaluating the outcome of a new medical procedure

Collaborator
A physician or health care provider who has executed a formal agreement with MicroSort to participate in the MicroSort clinical trial and follow guidelines approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Conceive, Conception
Become pregnant with a child

Conceptus
A general term referring to the product of the union of the oocyte and the sperm cell

Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation
The administration of hormone medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs

Corpus luteum
A special gland that forms on the surface of the ovary at the site of ovulation. It produces progesterone during the second half of the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. Its function is also to prepare the uterine lining for implantation by the fertilized egg

Cryopreservation
The process of cooling and storing cells at a temperature below the freezing point (-196◦ C) that provides high survivability when thawed

Cryoprotectant
A chemical component of the freezing solution used in cryopreservation that protects the cells from freeze damage

Cycle
A menstrual cycle which begins on the first day of menstrual bleeding

D

Diminished Ovarian Reserve
A large reduction in the ability of the ovary to produce good quality eggs. Reasons include advanced maternal age (older than 40), congenital, medical, or surgical causes

Donor insemination
The introduction of sperm from a donor into a woman's vagina or cervix using instruments, in order to achieve a pregnancy.

E

Ectopic Pregnancy
A pregnancy in the fallopian tube, or elsewhere outside the lining of the uterus. Unfortunately, it cannot develop into a healthy baby.

Egg (Ovum)
The female reproductive cell

Egg Retrieval
The procedure in which eggs are obtained by a needle, from ovarian follicles, removing the fluid and the egg by suction.

Embryo
The developing conceptus from approximately the second week until approximately the end of the second month.

Embryo Transfer
Placement of embryos into a woman's uterus after in vitro fertilization.

Endometriosis
The presence of endometrial tissue (the normal uterine lining) in abnormal locations such as the ovaries or peritoneal (pelvic) cavity.

Endometrium
The inside lining of the uterus where implantation of the embryo occurs. It sheds every month in response to estrogen and progesterone stimulation. If pregnancy occurs, the endometrium will not shed

Enriched (sorted) sample
The resulting portion of the semen specimen after MicroSort sperm separation that contains an increased number of sperm cells of the desired gender.

Estrogen
The major female hormone secreted by developing follicles and eventually by the dominant follicle in the ovaries. A normally menstruating woman ovulates once a month about 14 days after the start of the menstrual cycle. The developing follicle (a balloon-like space in the ovary that contains the egg) secretes estrogen as it grows. The level of this hormone peaks at the time of ovulation; it then drops for several days and peaks again about a week after ovulation. Estrogen is responsible for the normal growth and differentiation of the follicle and the egg. It also plays an important role in preparing the endometrial lining for implantation. Estrogen also changes the quality and texture of the Cervical Mucus (CM), making it thinner and more elastic. This allows the normal passage of sperm through the Cervix towards the uterus and the fallopian tube where the sperm meets the ovum (egg). Most important of all, estrogen causes Luteinizing Hormone (LH) to be released to trigger ovulation. Estrogen also causes the vagina to be moist and healthy in addition to its beneficial effects on bone and the cardiovascular system.

F

Fallopian tubes
A pair of tubes that conduct the egg from the ovary to the uterus. Normal fertilization takes place within this structure.

Family balancing
Using gender selection methods simply because parents prefer to choose their baby's sex, rather than medical necessity due to a sex linked genetic disorder. The term was coined to allay the stigma associated with "sex selection", which many people equate to "boy selection" and the notion that one sex is inherently better than the other. "Family balancing" is meant to convey the desire of many couples, not to conceive the "better" gender, but to balance their families with children of both genders.

Fecundability
The ability to become pregnant

Fertile, Fertility
Capable of breeding or reproducing offspring

Fertilize, Fertilization
The process of enabling reproduction by insemination in which gametes, a man’s sperm and a woman’s egg or ovum fuse together to produce a single cell called zygote that develops into an adult organism

Fetus
An unborn vertebrate at a stage when all the structural features of the adult are recognizable, especially an unborn human offspring after eight weeks of development

Fimbria
Finger-like outer ends of the Fallopian tubes.

Flow cytometer
A scientific instrument used to measure physiological and chemical characteristics of individual cells.

Fluorescence activated cell sorter
A flow cytometer that is modified for the purpose of separating cells based on the amount of light emitted from each cell.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
A laboratory procedure that uses DNA specific probes and can identify whether a sperm cell contains an X or Y chromosome.

Follicle
The fluid-filled sac in the ovary, in which the egg develops and from which the egg is released during ovulation, or aspiration.

Follicular Phase
The first half of the menstrual cycle when ovarian follicle development takes place, also called the pre-ovulatory stage.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
A hormone produced and released from the pituitary that stimulates the ovary to ripen a follicle for ovulation.

Frozen embryo transfer
The placement of thawed embryos into the uterus.

G

Gamete
A generic term referring to either sperm or the oocyte (egg).

Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)
The direct transfer of a mixture of sperm and eggs into the fallopian tube immediately following egg retrieval. Fertilization takes place inside the tube.

Gender Selection
Choosing the sex of a baby before conception either by artificial techniques or natural methodologies.

Gene
The unit of heredity, composed of DNA; the building block of chromosomes

Gestation
The period of time from conception to birth.

Gestational carrier (Surrogate)
A woman who carries a pregnancy for another couple. The pregnancy is derived from the egg and sperm of the couple. The gestational carrier has no genetic relationship to the resulting child.

H

Hormone
A chemical substance produced in the body’s endocrine glands or certain other cells that exerts a regulatory or stimulatory effects

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
A hormone produced by the placenta: It is the hormone of pregnancy and its detection is used in pregnancy tests.

Hyperstimulation syndrome
A possible side effect of medically induced ovulation, characterized by swollen, painful ovaries and, in some cases, the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and chest.

I

Implantation
The embedding of the fertilized egg in the lining of the uterus.

Insemination
Injection of sperm into the uterus (intrauterine) or cervix (intracervical) for the purpose of producing a pregnancy.

Intramuscular Injection
Injection administered into the muscular tissue (buttocks, thigh).

Informed consent
A document that, when signed by a patient, acknowledges he/she has been informed of the risks and benefits of a medical procedure and has had the opportunity to ask questions with all questions having been answered.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
A laboratory procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg cell for the purpose of attempting fertilization.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
A clinical procedure in which a sperm sample is inserted through the natural opening of the uterus (cervix) and deposited directly into the uterus using a fine insemination catheter for the purpose of attaining fertilization and pregnancy.

Infertile, Infertility
Inability of a couple to achieve a pregnancy or to carry a pregnancy to term after one year of unprotected intercourse in women 35 years of age and younger, and after six months of unprotected intercourse in women 36 years of age and older

IVF, in-vitro fertilization
This was once called creating a "test tube baby" by the popular press. During IVF, a woman is given fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, and the eggs are retrieved in a minor surgical procedure. The eggs are fertilized in the lab and the resulting embryos are incubated for several days. Usually, one to three embryos are selected to be transferred into the mother's uterus, and hopefully a pregnancy will result. ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection): A procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg; this procedure is most commonly used to overcome male infertility problems.

J

K

L

Laparoscopy
A surgical procedure to view and evaluate the pelvic organs. During the procedure a long, narrow telescope-like instrument, called a laparoscope, is inserted through an incision in or below the woman's navel. One or two other incisions may be made for inserting additional instruments. Can be diagnostic or therapeutic (used to treat any abnormalities found during the procedure).

Luteal Phase, Luteal Phase Length
The stage of the menstrual cycle between the formation of Corpus Luteum a (yellow mass of tissue) after the release of an ovum and the start of the next period. After ovulation, progesterone will be released by Corpus Luteum in order to maintain endometrium for about 12-16 days as the length of the phase. Individually, the length does not normally vary much more than a day or two. If your average length happens to be shorter than 10 days where it normally take 7-10 days for implantation of an fertilized egg to accomplish, chances are your endometrium could not be maintained long enough for the purpose this may render achieving pregnancy extremely difficult.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
An excellent indicator of ovulation. This hormone is secreted by pituitary gland in small amount during the early part of the cycle and then released in abundance roughly 24 hours ovulation before ovulation. Along with FSH, it is one of the two most important hormones that regulate ovarian function. The role of LH is to trigger ovulation and help prepare the endometrial lining for implantation.

M

Male Factor
Any cause of infertility due to low sperm count or problems with sperm function that make it difficult for a sperm to fertilize an egg under normal conditions.

Menstrual Cycle, Fertility Cycle
A typical menstrual cycle lasts 28 days. It begins with three to five days of menstruation, the shedding of the uterine lining, during which hormone levels are low. At the end of menstruation, a pituitary hormone stimulates new follicles to develop in the ovary. These secrete estrogen as they mature, causing cells in the lining of the uterus to proliferate. During the mid-cycle, one mature follicle releases an egg. The empty follicle forms the corpus luteum, an endocrine body that secretes progesterone. Under the added influence of progesterone, the uterine lining thickens further and swells in preparation for the implantation of a fertilized egg. If fertilization does not take place, the corpus luteum dies and hormone levels fall. Without hormonal support, the uterine lining disintegrates and discharges, beginning a new menstrual period and cycle.

Micromanipulation
The IVF laboratory process whereby a single sperm is injected directly into the egg to facilitate fertilization, (ICSI) or the shell around the embryo is thinned to facilitate hatching (Assisted Hatching).

MicroSort
A sperm sorting procedure used for gender selection. Using flow cytometry, X sperm or Y sperm are sorted in a semen sample, and the resulting sorted sample is used to become pregnant using either artificial insemination (IUI) or IVF.

Miscarriage (also called spontaneous abortion)
A pregnancy ending in the spontaneous loss of the embryo or fetus before 20 weeks of gestation.

Mittelschmerz
A German word referring to the middle of the menstrual cycle and a pain that is felt at the time of ovulation in the lower abdomen, usually on the right side

Motility
Motion, such as the forward swimming motion of healthy sperm

Mucus
Secretion from a gland that can be watery, gel-like, stretchy, sticky, or dry; fertile mucus is watery and stretchy

Multifetal pregnancy reduction
A procedure used to decrease the number of fetuses a woman carries and improve the chances that the remaining fetuses will develop into healthy infants.

N

O

Obstetrician-gynecologist (ObGYN)
A physician who specializes in the treatment of female disorders and pregnancy

Oligomenorrhea
Infrequent and irregular menstrual cycles

Oocyte
The egg produced by the ovaries each month. Also called the ovum (gamete).

Opaque
Not transmiting light. Impenetrable to sight. In terms of cervical mucus, opaque refers to a state where the mucus is still not transparent.

"opposite"
An "opposite" is a baby born after an attempt to sway or select the opposite gender. The gender method may have failed, but the resulting baby is never a failure -- just the opposite gender of what we tried for.

Ovary
Ovaries produce reproductive cells called egg, or ovum are oblong, flattened, ductless glands, about 3.8 cm (about 1.5 in) long, on either side of the uterus, to which they are connected by the Fallopian tubes. The ovary secretes hormone estrogen and progesterone that contribute to secondary female sexual characteristics and also regulate menstruation.

Ovarian stimulation
The use of drugs (oral or injected) to stimulate the ovaries to develop follicles and eggs.

Ovulation
The release of a mature egg from the follicle at the surface of the ovary.

Ovulation Induction
The administration of hormone medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Sometimes called controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

Ovulatory dysfunction
A diagnostic category used when a woman's ovaries are not producing eggs normally. It includes polycystic ovary syndrome.

Ovum
Female reproductive cell

P

Peak Day, Peak Symptoms, Peak Fertility
The day ovulation occurs and when Basal Body Temperature (BBT) will take a sharp dip prior to raising perceptibly. It will remain at a higher point until the next cycle nears. At the same time, Cervical Mucus (CM) will resemble raw egg white, relatively abundant in volume, its texture will become very watery and slippery, and it will be highly stretchable in nature. Other observable symptoms during ovulation include ovulatory pain (Mittelschmerz), spotting, and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) surge.

PGD, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
A technique used during an IVF cycle, either for sex selection or to prevent an inherited genetic disorder. After embryos are fertilized, they are analyzed using genetic testing. Only embryos found to be of the desired sex, or free from the tested genetic disorder, are implanted in the mother. 100% effective for sex selection.

Pituitary Gland
A gland located at the base of the brain, below the hypothalamus, which controls almost every endocrine gland in the body. Therefore it controls human growth, development and reproduction.

Progesterone
A hormone produced and released by the corpus luteum of the ovary during the second half of an ovulatory cycle. It is necessary for the preparation of the lining of the uterus for the implantation of the fertilized egg and maintenance of the early pregnancy.

Q

R

S

SART registry
An ongoing collection of IVF results from participating clinics developed and maintained by SART, a society affiliated with the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.

Semen
The sperm and seminal secretions ejaculated during orgasm by the male.

Semen Analysis
The examination of a semen sample for sperm volume, count, motility, morphology and presence of white blood cells.

sex linked (or X-linked) genetic disorder
A sex linked genetic disorder is caused by a genetic error in the X chromosome, and almost always affects only males. Usually, a woman who is a carrier of an X-linked disorder will not have the disease, and her daughters also will be free of the disease, but any sons will be affected by the disease. In the case of severe disorders, sex selection is used to prevent the conception of affected males.

Sex selection
A method by which intended parents can pre-select the sex of their child.

Sort
The process of using MicroSort flow cytometry to separate the X- or Y-bearing sperm.

Spotting
Spotting refers to light blood shed that occurs between two menstruations. There are basically 3 types of spotting: 1. Midcycle Spotting – Generally, an indicator of high fertility. This type will normally occur around ovulation as a result of shedding of excessive layers of endometrium which have built up under the influence of estrogen. 2. Implantation Spotting – An indicator of a possible pregnancy. This type will usually occur 7-10 days after ovulation. 3. Pre-Menstrual Spotting – This is early shedding of endometrium as progesterone level drops, which may begin a day or two before the actual menstruation.

Sperm
Male reproductive cells

Sperm washing
The separation of sperm from seminal fluid to prepare the sperm for intrauterine insemination.

Subcutaneous injection
Injection administered into the soft tissue beneath the skin (superficial)

Surrogate (Gestational carrier)
A woman who is inseminated either directly or through IVF with the sperm of a man who is not her partner for purposes of conceiving and carrying a child to be reared by the biological father and his wife.

T

Testosterone
The primary male sex hormone

Thermal Shift
Obvious shift of body temperature level above the trend line on an ovulation chart (BBT) indicating that ovulation may have occurred. The shift is caused by progesterone released by Corpus Luteum immediately after the ovulation. The body temperature rise is typically at least 0.2 F / 0.1 C above the highest temperatures recorded previously.

Transvaginal Aspiration
A method of retrieving eggs out of ovarian follicles by needle aspiration through the vagina.

Tubal embryo transfer (TET)
A process where an early stage embryo is transferred to the fallopian tube via laparoscopy. Tubal factor
A diagnostic category used when the woman's fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged, making it difficult for the egg to be fertilized or for an embryo to travel to the uterus.

Tubal patency
Unobstructed fallopian tubes.

U

Ultrasound
A technique for visualizing the follicles in the ovaries and fetus in the uterus. It is useful for evaluation of the follicles, endometrium, uterus, and for evaluation of fetal growth and viability (heart motion).

Uterine factor
A structural or functional disorder of the uterus that results in reduced fertility.

Uterus
A hollow muscular organ (as big as a small pear) present in the pelvis. It is connected to the vagina by the cervix and to the abdominal cavity by the fallopian tubes. Its main function is to contain and nourish the fertilized egg as it develops into an embryo, a fetus, and eventually a baby. It is lined by a thick layer of specialized glandular cells called the endometrium.

V

X

X Chromosome-bearing or X-bearing
Sperm cells that contain the X (female) chromosome and will subsequently result in a female offspring after fertilization.

Y

Y Chromosome-bearing or Y-bearing
Sperm cells that contain the Y (male) chromosome and will subsequently result in a male offspring after fertilization.

Z

Zygote
The cell resulting after fertilization of the oocyte by the sperm. Visible in the laboratory 1 day after egg retrieval.

Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT)
A process in which zygotes are transferred to the fallopian tube at the pronuclear stage (before cell division takes place).