Fertility Acronyms and Glossary

ABO-Rh
Blood type & antibody screen

Assisted Hatching (AH)
This is an IVF technique that involves creating a small opening in an embryo’s shell (zona pellucida) to weaken the wall of the embryo, thus helping the embryo to successfully hatch and implant into the endometrium (lining of the uterus).

Blastocyst
Refers to an embryo that is on the 5th day of development after fertilization.

Cleaved Embryo
Refers to an embryo between 2 and 4 days of development after fertilization.

Embryo Transfer
This is a simple procedure that is performed either 3-5 days after a fresh egg retrieval or during a frozen embryo transfer cycle. Under transabdominal ultrasound guidance, a soft catheter is guided into the uterine cavity, and the embryos are placed in a location with the highest receptivity. It is not painful, but a Valium is given to help the uterine muscle relax. After the embryo transfer, patients remain at rest for 30 minutes.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
FSH is a hormone normally secreted from the pituitary gland to stimulate ovarian follicle growth and maturation. Synthetic FSH (Bravelle®, Follistim®, Gonal F®) can be injected to bring about the follicle growth of one or more follicles.

Gestational Carrier
A woman who undergoes an embryo transfer and is not genetically linked to the embryo being transferred.

Gonadoptropins
There are many types of gonadotropins used alone or in combination for ovulation induction. They include FSH (follicle stimulating hormone): Bravelle®, Follistim®, Gonal F®; or HMG (human menopausal gonadotropin): Repronex®, Pergonal®, Menopure®.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)
Hormone of pregnancy. Manufactured HCG is also injected to cause an egg to fully mature and ovulate. Brand names include: Ovidrel®, Profasi® and Pregnyl®.

Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
A pelvic X-ray is done to determine if the uterine cavity is without lesions, and to check for fallopian tube patency.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
ICSI is a lab procedure created to help couples undergoing IVF with male factor infertility. ICSI involves the insertion of a single sperm directly into the cytoplasm of a mature egg using a microinjection pipette to help with fertilization.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
IUI is a fertility procedure involving the sperm being washed, concentrated, and injected directly into a woman’s uterus. During natural intercourse, only a fraction of the sperm makes it up to the upper reproductive tract. IUI increases the number of sperm available to fertilize an egg.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
IVF is an advanced reproductive technology (ART) where the egg and the sperm are fertilized outside of the body, and then the embryo is placed into the uterine cavity.

Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA)
PESA is an outpatient sperm retrieval technique to obtain sperm from a man’s epididymis if he does not have any sperm in his ejaculate.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
PGD is a technique that can be used during an IVF procedure to test embryos for genetic disorders and chromosome abnormalities prior to their transfer into the uterus.

ART
Assisted Reproductive Technology

CC
Cubic Centimeter (the same as ML)

CD1
Cycle Day 1 (first day of flow)

ER
Egg Retrieval

ET
Embryo Transfer

FET
Frozen Embryo Transfer

FSH
Follicle Stimulating Hormone

GNRH
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (e.g.: Lupron)

HCG
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

HMG/FSH
Human Menopausal Gonadotropin/Follicle Stimulating Hormone (e.g.: Menopur, Bravelle, Repronex, Gonal F, Follistim and others)

HSG
Hysterosalpingogram

ICSI
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

IM
Intra-muscular

IUI
Intrauterine Insemination

IVF
In Vitro Fertilization

LH
Luteinizing Hormone

ML
Milliliter (the same as CC)

OD
Ovum Donor

PESA
Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration

PGD
Preimplantation Genetic diagnosis

P4
Progesterone

PRL
Prolactin

RPL
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

SART
Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology

SQ
Subcutaneous (also SC)

TESE
Testicular Sperm Extraction

TDI
Therapeutic Donor Insemination

T3, T4, FT4
Thyroid Function Tests

TSH
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone