IMPORTANT TERMS – BRIEFLY EXPLAINED

USE THIS GLOSSARY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND TECHNICAL TERMS

  • Andrology: male health
  • Ascites: fluid in the abdominal cavity, e.g. in the case of ovarian hyperstimulation
  • Trigger shot: HCG injection to induce ovulation
  • Blastocyst: advanced division stage of an early embryo
  • Cervical secretion: cervical mucus
  • Cervix: cervix
  • Chromosomes: carriers of hereditary factors
  • Diaphragm: plastic cap for closing the mouth of the uterus, also for contraception
  • Embryo: the unborn child in the first 12 weeks.
  • Embryo transfer: the transfer of an embryo into the uterus (ET) or intact fallopian tube (EIFT); usually referred to as tubal embryo transfer (TET).
  • Endometriosis: the appearance of tissue similar to the lining of the uterus in places or organs outside the uterus.
  • Endometrium: uterus
  • Extracorporeal fertilisation (ECB): the fertilisation of an oocyte outside the body (see in-vitro fertilisation).
  • Extrauterine: outside the uterus
  • Extrauterine pregnancy (EUG): Ectopic pregnancy
  • Fertilisation: insemination
  • Foetus: the unborn child after the 12th week.
  • Fimbria funnel: funnel-shaped opening of the fallopian tube for receiving the oocyte
  • Follicle: fluid-filled follicle containing the oocyte
  • Follicular puncture: aspiration of the follicular fluid to obtain oocytes
  • Germ cells: germ cells (oocyte and sperm cells)
  • Corpus luteum: develops in the ovary from the ruptured follicle
  • Gravidity: pregnancy
  • Hormone: active substance produced in the body
  • Pituitary gland: pituitary gland (hormone gland)
  • Hypothalamus: superior hormone control gland, regulates the function of the pituitary gland
  • ICSI: intracytoplasmic sperm injection: Injection of a sperm into an oocyte (microinsemination, microinjection)
  • Idiopathic infertility: unexplained infertility without evidence of physical or psychological causes.

 

  • Immunological sterility: sterility caused by the body's own defence reaction.
  • Implantation: implantation of the embryo in the endometrium
  • Fertilisation: injection of sperm (cells) into the uterine cavity or fallopian tube
  • Intratubal gamete transfer (GIFT): insertion of oocyte and sperm cells into the fallopian tube
  • In-vitro fertilisation (IVF): "Test tube fertilisation", fertilisation outside the body (Latin: vitrum - glass)
  • Cannula: syringe
  • Catheter: thin tube for insertion into body organs
  • Culture medium: nutrient solution
  • Cryopreservation: deep freeze preservation
  • Surrogacy: carrying a pregnancy to term by another woman from whom the fertilised oocyte did not originate; not permitted in Germany.
  • MESA: microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration, collection of sperm from the epididymis
  • Ooestrogen: typical female hormone, mainly produced in the follicle.
  • Ovary: ovary
  • Ovulation: ovulation
  • Placenta: placenta
  • Polycystic ovaries (PCO): ovary with many small cysts, usually associated with increased male hormones.
  • Sperm: spermatozoa
  • Sperm antibodies: the body's own defence substances against sperm in men and/or women.
  • Spermiogram: sperm quality analysis
  • Stimulation: promoting the maturation of follicles, e.g. through hormones
  • Sterility: involuntary childlessness
  • TESE: testicular sperm extraction, extraction of sperm from the testicle
  • Tube: fallopian tube
  • Uterus: uterus
  • Cyst: cavity filled with fluid