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Below is a glossary of  common acronyms and terms used in IVF

Adhesion The scar tissue that forms around reproductive organs following a previous injury, infection or surgery. Chlamydia Infection is also a cause of this.
Amenorrhea The absence of menstruation/No bleeding and no menses.
Androgen Primarily a male sex hormone, found in the ovaries. Higher level of them harm the egg quality.
Anovulation The total absence of ovulation.
Antagonist Protocol GnRH antagonist is used to prevent luteinization, spontaneous release of eggs before egg collection.
AI Artificial Insemination-The depositing of sperms in the vagina near the cervix or directly into the uterus, with the use of a catheter instead of by sexual intercourse. This technique is used to overcome sexual performance problems, to avoid sperm-mucus interaction problems, to maximize the potential of poor semen, and for using donor sperm.
ART Assisted Reproductive Technologies -A variety of procedures used to bring about conception without sexual intercourse, including IVF and GIFT.
Asthenozoospermia Presence of very weak sperms in semen with lack of forward motility.
Azoospermia Complete absence of sperms in the ejaculate.
BBT Test Basal Body Temperature Test-The temperature of a woman taken every morning during a cycle before any activity is done that may raise her temperature. It is done to help determine if ovulation has taken place. Progesterone hormone rise in the blood increases the body temp.
Baseline Ultrasound An examination conducted before starting therapy to determine the general position and condition of the ovaries to rule out any cysts so that stimulation can be started from a clean ‘slate’
Blastocyst Transfer Embryos develop for 4 or 5 days (until they reach blastocyst stage), rather than the usual 2 or 3 days in IVF.
Cervical Mucus Mucus produced by the cervix that permits passage of sperm during ovulation, and prevents infection.
Cervix Lower section of the uterus that protrudes into the vagina, through which the sperm pass to reach the uterus
Chemical Pregnancy The false appearance of pregnancy due to changes in hormonal levels.
Conception Fertilization; when the sperm meets and penetrates the egg.
Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation Stimulation of the ovaries with various hormonal medications (FSH) in order to develop as many follicles as possible, as well as to control the timing of ovulation.
Corpus Luteum A structure that forms at the site of an ovarian follicle after it releases an egg. The corpus luteum releases estrogen and progesterone, two hormones necessary for maintaining a pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs, the corpus luteum functions for five or six months. If pregnancy does not occur, it stops functioning.
Cryopreservation Storage of organs or tissues at very low temperatures. Embryos that are not used in an ART cycle can be cryopreserved for future use.
Downregulation Ovaries which are controlled by pituitary gland in the brain needs to be down-regulated to take the control of ovaries into our hand so that we can hormonally stimulate the same.
Dysmenorrhea Cramping and pain around the time of menstruation.
Dysmucorrhea Poor quality or inadequate cervical mucus that can prohibit sperm passage.
Ectopic Pregnancy Implantation of an embryo in a place other than the uterus.
Egg Retrieval A procedure used to obtain eggs from ovarian follicles for use in in vitro fertilization. The procedure may be performed during laparoscopy or through the vagina by using a needle and ultrasound to locate the follicle in the ovary.
Ejaculate As a noun, it refers to the mixture of sperm and seminal fluid that comes out of a man's penis during sexual stimulation. As a verb, it refers to the passing of this material.
Endometrial Biopsy The removal of a sample of the lining of the uterus for examination.
Endometriosis A disease whereby cells lining the uterus (or endometrium) get outside of the uterus and stick to other organs in the body, causing inflammation, severe pain in all the menses cycles.
Endometrium The lining of the uterus. The thickness has to be more than some size to sustain pregnancy.
Epididymis The organ in a man where sperms are stored, nourished and get matured after production.
Embryo Term used to describe the early stages of fetal growth, from conception to the eighth week of pregnancy.
Embryo Transfer Placing an egg fertilized outside the womb into a woman's uterus or fallopian tube.
Estradiol The most potent naturally occurring estrogen in humans, which is released from the ovary.
Estrogen Hormone that stimulates secondary female sexual characteristics and controls the course of the menstrual cycle. Also produced in low quantities in males.
Estrone One of the relatively weak estrogens, which is produced in large amounts in PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) patients.
Fallopian Tubes Ducts through which eggs travel to the uterus once released from the follicle. Sperm normally meet the egg in the fallopian tube, the site at which fertilization usually occurs.
Fertility Specialist A physician specializing in the practice of fertility.
Fertility Treatment Any method or procedure used to enhance fertility or increase the likelihood of pregnancy, such as Ovulation Induction (OI) treatment, varicocele repair (repair of varicose veins in the scrotal sac), and microsurgery to repair damaged fallopian tubes. The goal of fertility treatment is to help couples have a child.
Fertilization The combining of the genetic material carried by sperm and egg to create an embryo. Normally occurs inside the fallopian tube (in vivo) but may also occur in a Petri dish (in vitro). (See also In Vitro Fertilization.) or by injecting a single sperm into an egg (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection)
Fibroid Benign (not malignant or life-threatening) tumor of fibrous tissue that can occur in the uterine wall. May be totally without symptoms or may cause abnormal menstrual patterns or infertility.
Fimbria The finger-like extensions on the fallopian tubes that sweep the egg into the fallopian tube.
FSH Follicle Stimulating Hormone - A pituitary hormone that stimulates follicular development and spermatogenesis (sperm development). In a woman, FSH stimulates the growth of the ovarian follicle. In a man, FSH stimulates the Sertoli cells in the testicles and supports sperm production. Elevated FSH levels are associated with gonadal failure in both men and women.
Follicles Fluid-filled sacs in the ovary, which contain the eggs released at ovulation. Each month an egg develops inside the ovary in a follicle.
Gamete A reproductive cell containing genetic material. Sperm in men, the egg in women.
GIFT Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer- After egg retrieval, the eggs are mixed with sperm and then placed, using a minor surgical procedure (laparoscopy), into a woman's fallopian tubes for in vivo fertilization.
GnRH Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone- A substance secreted every ninety minutes or so by a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. This hormone enables the pituitary to secrete LH and FSH, which stimulate the gonads.
Gonadotropins Hormones secreted by the pituitary gland that control reproductive function, such as LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone).
Gonads Glands that make the gametes (testicles in men and ovaries in women).
Hirsutism Women having some features like hair growth in the face, chest due to higher level of male hormones in their blood.
hCG Human Chorionic Gonadotropin - The hormone produced in early pregnancy, released by the placenta after implantation, that keeps the corpus luteum producing estradiol and progesterone and thus prevent menstruation. Also used via injection to trigger ovulation after some fertility treatments, and used in men to stimulate testosterone production.
Hydrosalpinx Blocked, dilated, fluid-filled fallopian tube.
Hypogonadism Inadequate ovarian or testicular function as shown by low sperm production or lack of follicle production, as well as low levels of FSH and LH.
HH Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism / Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadal- It is a rare condition in which impaired activity of the hypothalamus or pituitary results in below-normal function of the gonads and in abnormally low FSH and LH serum levels and consequential negligible estrogen levels. (The gonads are the ovaries and testes and the hormones they normally produce include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone).
Hypothalamus The gland at the base of the brain that controls the release of hormones from the pituitary glands.
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) An x-ray procedure in which a special liquid is injected through the cervix into the uterine cavity to illustrate the inner shape of the uterus and degree of openness of the fallopian tubes. If the tubes are open, the liquid will spill out the ends of the tubes. If the tubes are blocked, the liquid is trapped.
Hysteroscopy A visual examination of the uterus using an instrument called a hysteroscope, which enables the doctor to see into the organ without making a large incision.
Idiopathic Infertility The term used to explain when the cause of infertility cannot be explained also called unexplained infertility.
Implantation (Embryo) The embedding of the embryo into tissue so it can establish contact with the mother's blood supply for nourishment. Implantation usually occurs in the lining of the uterus; however, in an ectopic pregnancy it may occur elsewhere in the body.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Eggs produced by administering fertility drugs are retrieved from a woman's body and fertilized by sperm in a laboratory in a test tube or Petri dish. The resulting embryos are transferred by catheter to the uterus. Hence this procedure is also called Test Tube Baby treatment.
Infertility The inability to conceive after a year of unprotected intercourse (six months if a woman is over age 35).
ICSI Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection- A micromanipulation (occurring under the microscope) procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into the egg to enable fertilization with very low sperm counts or with non-motile sperm (sperm that don't swim effectively toward the egg). The embryo is then transferred to the uterus.
IM Needle Intramuscular Needle- A needle designed to administer medication deep into the muscle. Injections of this type are usually given in the thigh or upper buttock area.
IUI Intrauterine Insemination- A procedure in which a doctor places processed sperms directly into the uterus through the cervix using a catheter.
Laparoscopy Examination of the pelvic region by using a small telescope called a laparoscope.
Luteal Phase Days of the menstrual cycle after ovulation when progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum.
LH Luteinizing Hormone - A pituitary hormone that stimulates the gonads. In a man, LH is necessary for spermatogenesis and for the production of testosterone. In a woman, LH is necessary for the production of estrogen.
LH SURGE Luteinizing Hormone Surge- The release of luteinizing hormone (LH) that causes release of a mature egg from the follicle.

 
 
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