Fertility & IVF Terms
Explained Clearly

Eggs and sperm meet in the laboratory; embryos are cultured and transferred to the uterus.

A single sperm is injected into each mature egg — essential for many male factor cases.

Prepared sperm is placed into the uterus around the time of ovulation.

Embryo biopsy for chromosome or single-gene conditions before transfer.

An embryo about five to six days after fertilisation — often used for transfer or freeze.

Transfer of a vitrified-warmed embryo in a later cycle.

Placing the embryo into the uterus — usually quick and painless.

Medications that grow multiple follicles for egg retrieval.

An exaggerated response to fertility drugs — usually mild, rarely severe.

Vitrification allows high survival after thaw for eggs, embryos, and sperm.

A biopsy-based test that aims to time embryo transfer to the implantation window.

A blood test that helps estimate ovarian reserve and plan IVF stimulation.

A pituitary hormone that drives follicle growth — interpreted with age and AMH.

Triggers ovulation and supports the corpus luteum.

The main estrogen from growing follicles.

Supports the lining after ovulation and through early pregnancy.

Used as an IVF trigger and measured in pregnancy blood tests.

Screens thyroid function — important for ovulation and pregnancy.

Elevated levels can suppress ovulation and periods.

Below-reference sperm concentration — often treatable or bypassed with ICSI.

Sperm swim poorly — conception odds drop especially for natural cycles and IUI.

Many sperm have abnormal forms — strict morphology is assessed in the lab.

Measures breaks in sperm genetic material — relevant in recurrent loss and some IVF failures.

No sperm seen in the ejaculate — still often treatable with the right diagnosis.

Microsurgical search for sperm inside testicular tissue in non-obstructive azoospermia.

Needle-based retrieval when sperm are blocked but production exists.

Dilated scrotal veins — linked to semen parameter decline in some men.

A chromosomal pattern that often reduces natural fertility but TESE-ICSI may still be possible.

Brain–pituitary signalling to the testes is reduced.

When producing a sample for fertility treatment is difficult — medical and lab solutions exist.

Assesses blood flow into and out of the penis after pharmacological stimulation.

Structured assessment finds treatable causes and guides IUI vs IVF/ICSI.

A common hormonal pattern that can delay ovulation and affect fertility.

Fewer eggs likely to respond to stimulation — planning and empathy matter.

Ovaries stop functioning normally before age 40 — periods may be irregular or absent.

Tissue similar to uterine lining grows outside the uterus — pain and fertility overlap.

Sperm and egg cannot meet naturally — IVF often bypasses the tubes.

Scar tissue inside the uterine cavity — periods may lighten and implantation suffers.

Endometrium below the thickness your clinic targets for transfer.

Multiple good embryos transferred without clinical pregnancy — time to widen the workup.

Two or more consecutive or total pregnancy losses — deserves structured testing.

Benign muscle tumours — location matters more than size alone for fertility.

Ovulation, tubes, uterus, and hormones — mapped to age and goals.

Preserving future parenthood before gonadotoxic therapy.

When conventional IVF is not enough, regenerative pathways may be discussed — with clear evidence standards.

Autologous stem cells from mini-liposuction — studied for ovarian and testicular applications.

Adult stem cells with anti-inflammatory and repair signalling — used in research for endometrium and more.

Cell-free nanoparticles that may carry regenerative signals without live cell transfer.

Differentiate into a limited set of lineages — ADSCs and MSCs fall here.

Can form any cell type — frontier science for lab-grown gametes (not routine care).

An investigational approach sometimes discussed for very low reserve — not standard worldwide.

Camera inspection and surgery of the uterine cavity.

Minimally invasive abdominal surgery for diagnosis and treatment.

X-ray with contrast outlines the uterine cavity and tubes.

The embryo attaches to the lining and invades to form placenta — a finely timed process.

Pregnancy documented by ultrasound (sac or heartbeat), not hCG alone.

hCG rises then falls before ultrasound confirmation — early loss.

Medical procedures handling eggs, sperm, or embryos outside the body.