This glossary has been included to clarify some of the more technical terms you may come across when researching infertility. You may also want to consult our list of commonly used acronyms.

AMENORRHEA
The absence of menstruation

ASPERMIA
The absence of semen and sperm

ASTHENOSPERMIA
A condition in which the sperm do not move at all or move more slowly than normal

AZOOSPERMIA
The absence of sperm in the ejaculate

CERVIX
The lower section of the uterus which protrudes into the vagina and dilates during labour to allow for the passage of the infant

CRYOPRESERVATION (embryo freezing)
A procedure used to preserve and store embryos 

EMBRYO
A term used to describe the early stages of fetal growth, from conception to the eighth week of pregnancy

FALLOPIAN TUBES
A pair of narrow tubes that carry the egg from the ovary to the uterus

FOLLICLE
The structure in the ovary that has nurtured the ripening egg and from which the egg is released

GAMETES
The male or female reproductive cells -- the sperm or the egg

HYPERSTIMULATION SYNDROME
A condition indicated by ovarian enlargement, gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal distension and weight gain

IDIOPATHIC INFERTILITY
A term used to describe unexplained infertility

INFERTILITY
The inability of a couple to achieve pregnancy or the inability of the woman to carry a pregnancy to term

MOTILITY OF SPERM
The ability of sperm to move about

OOCYTE
The egg

OVARY
The sexual gland of the female which produces female hormones and in which the eggs are developed

OVULATION
The release of a mature egg, usually at about the midpoint of the menstrual cycle

SEMEN
The sperm and seminal secretions ejaculated during orgasm

SPERM WASH
A technique that separates the sperm from the seminal fluid

TESTICLES
The male sexual gland which produces the male hormone and reproductive cells

VARICOCELE
A varicose vein of the testicles

ZYGOTE
An embryo in the early stage of development