| Term |
Description |
| Abdomen/abdominal |
The area of the tummy |
| Acrosome |
The membrane covering the head of the sperm containing the enzymes that are realeased to enable the sperm to enter the egg |
| Amniocentesis |
Procedure where cells are taken from the fluid around the foetus to detect abnormalities, usually between the 15th and 17th weeks of pregnancy |
| Amniotic membrane |
Inner membrane around the amniotic fluid containing a foetus |
| Anencephaly |
Severe neural tube defect in which there is no brain development |
| Anovulation |
Lack of ovulation |
| Azoospermia |
Absence of sperm in the semen |
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Basal body
temperature |
Ovulation leads to increased blood progesterone levels which are associated with a small rise in body temperature. |
| Blastocyst |
An embryo 5-6 days after fertilisation, consisting of an outer layer of cells that will become the placenta, and an inner mass of cells that will become the foetus |
|
Body Mass Index (BMI)
|
Measure of body mass determined by dividing a person's weight (in kilograms) by height (in metres) squared. Normal values are between 20 and 25 |
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| Capacitation |
The final phase of development in the sperm in which it acquires the ability to fertilise an egg |
| Catheter |
A fine plastic tube used to put sperm or embryos into the uterus through the cervix |
| Cervix |
The lower narrow end of the uterus that connects the uterine cavity to the vagina |
| Chlamydia |
Infection that may damage the reproductive system |
| Chorionic membrane |
The outer layer of the membranes that surround the foetal sac |
Chorionic Villus
Sampling (CVS) |
A procedure where cells are taken from the placenta around 11 weeks of pregnancy to test for abnormalities in the foetus |
| Chromosomes |
Structures in the nucleus of the cell that carry genetic information |
| Clinical Pregnancy |
A pregnancy that can be detected by ultrasound scanning of the uterus |
| Chromosome |
Structures in the cell nucleus that contain our hereditary material in the form of DNA |
| Cilia |
Hair-like projections that line some tubes, e.g., the Fallopian tubes |
| Conjoined twins |
Twins that are joined by some parts of their bodies |
| Corpus luteum |
A yellow structure in the ovary formed after the rupture of the egg from that site. It produces progesterone |
| Cryptorchidism |
Undescended testes |
| |
|
| Day 1 |
First day of the period. Start of the menstrual cycle |
Dilatation and
curettage (D&C) |
Operation to scrape out the lining of the uterus |
| Dyspareunia |
Pain during sexual intercourse |
| |
|
| Ectopic pregnancy |
Pregnancy outside the uterus, commonly in the Fallopian tube |
| Ejaculate |
The discharge of semen from the penis during male orgasm |
| Endometriosis |
The presence of endometrial cells at sites outside the lining of the uterus |
| Endometrium |
Lining of the uterus |
| Epididymis |
A coiled tube 3-5 m in length attached to the back of the testis. It stores sperm and gives rise to their motility |
| |
|
| Fallopian tube |
Tube that runs from the uterus out towards the ovary. It is responsible for the passage of sperm, eggs and embryos |
| Fecundity |
The probability of a live birth from one cycle of ovulation |
| Fibroid |
Benign muscular growth in the uterus |
| Fimbria |
Delicate, finger-like fringes that collect the egg |
| Follicle |
A fluid-filled sac in the ovary in which the egg matures |
| Follicular phase |
The phase of the menstrual cycle in which the dominant follicle grows to reach maturity. The follicular phase is completed at the time of egg release (ovulation) |
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|
| Gestation |
Length of pregnancy |
| Granulosa cells |
Cells that surround each egg and line each follicle and are responsible for feeding the egg with nutrients and producing oestrogen |
| |
|
| Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) |
Hormone that is produced by the developing placenta |
| |
|
| Insemination |
Placing sperm into the cervix or uterus, or in IVF placing sperm with the eggs in culture conditions the laboratory |
| Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) |
Technique used for severe male factor problems in which the sperm are injected into the eggs using a high-powered microscope |
| In vitro fertilisation (IVF) |
The reproductive technique in which fertilisation occurs `in vitro', which means `in glass', i.e., in the laboratory in a dish or a tube. If the egg fertilises and begins cell division the resulting embryo is transferred into the woman’s uterus where it will hopefully implant and give rise to a pregnancy |
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|
| Karyotpye |
A test looking at the number and appearance of chromosomes from cells |
| |
|
| Laparoscopy |
Technique in which a telescope visualises the structures within the abdomen. Commonly used to check tubal patency and the presence of any pelvic pathology |
| LMP |
Last menstrual period |
| Luteal phase |
The phase of the menstrual cycle from ovulation to the start of the next period |
| Luteinising hormone (LH) |
One of the hormones produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. A rapid rise of LH initiates the onset of ovulation |
| |
|
| Menarche |
Onset of menstruation |
| Menstruation period |
The lining of the uterus is shed in response to falling oestrogen and progesterone levels at the end of the luteal phase |
| |
|
| Oestrogen |
A hormone produced by the ovaries |
| Ovarian stimulation |
Stimulating the ovary to produce more than one mature egg in a menstrual cycle by giving fertility drugs |
| Ovary |
The female gonad that contains the eggs |
| Ovulation |
Release of the egg from the ovary. This usually occurs about 14 days before the next menstrual period |
| Ovum |
The egg |
| |
|
| Pelvic inflammatory disease |
Infection of the tubes and uterus that can lead to infertility by adhesion formation |
| Peri menopause |
The five to 10 years prior to cessation of periods (menopause) |
| Phyto oestrogens |
Oestrogens in plants |
| Pituitary gland |
A small gland at the base of the brain. It produces FSH, LH and other hormones |
| Placenta |
The organ that transfers nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the baby |
| Progesterone |
Hormone produced by the corpus luteum. It prepares the uterus for implantation of a developing embryo if fertilisation has occurred |
| Pronuclei |
Once an egg has been fertilised, two pronuclei may be seen, one from the egg and one from the sperm |
| Puberty |
The time in adolescence in which sexual organs mature and secondary sexual characteristics appear |
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|
| Scrotum |
The pouch that contains the testicles |
| Semen |
Fluid that constitutes the ejaculate |
| Semen analysis |
The microscopic examination of semen to determine the number of sperm (sperm count) their shapes (morphology) and their ability to move (motility) |
| Seminal fluid |
The liquid part of the semen in which sperm swim around |
| Siamese twins |
Conjoined twins |
| Spermatogenesis |
Sperm production |
| Spermatogonia |
The cells within the testis that differentiate into sperm |
| Sperm |
The male reproductive cell that unites with the egg (ovum) to produce an embryo |
| Spina bifida |
A developmental abnormality in which the bones of the spinal column do not fuse |
| |
|
| Testes |
The male gonads responsible for production of sperm and testosterone |
| |
|
| Ultrasound |
High frequency sound waves that may be used to identify bodily structures |
| Uterus |
The organ in the female in which the foetus develops. Often called the womb |
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| Vagina |
The canal in the female that leads to the cervix, which leads to the uterus |
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|
| Zona pellucida |
Outer covering or ”shell' of the egg |