When you are dealing with infertility and trying to get pregnant, you might find yourself more than a little confused by all of the highly technical medical terms!
Here are some more of the most frequently used medical terms pertaining to infertility and fertility treatments:
Gestational Sac: This refers to the fluid-filled structure that develops within the uterus during pregnancy. Normally, the gestational sac contains a developing fetus.
Home Fertility Screening: These are fertility testing kits that can be purchased over the counter, without a prescription, and allow for fertility screening of both men and women.
ICSI: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection. This is a procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into a mature female egg. This is usually done when there are male infertility problems.
Induced abortion: This is a term used for a surgical or other medical procedure used to end a pregnancy. A miscarriage, for example, is a spontaneous abortion, which means it happened with no medical intervention.
IUI: Also known as Intrauterine Insemination. This is a medical procedure in which a sperm is placed directly into a woman’s uterus in the hopes that fertilization will take place. IUI is not an ART procedure since it does not involve the manipulation or transfer of eggs.
IVF: In Vitro Fertilization. This is an ART procedure in which a woman’s eggs are removed from the ovaries, and then fertilized outside her body. The embryos that result are subsequently transferred into the woman’s uterus via the cervix.
Laparoscopy: This refers to a surgical procedure in which a laparoscope is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen, in order to view the inside of the pelvis.
Live birth: This means the delivery of one or more babies with signs of life.
Male factor: This referring to any cause of infertility that is due to low sperm count, or problems with sperm function that make it difficult or even impossible for a sperm to fertilize an egg under natural conditions.
If you understand the terms you will hear used frequently in dealing with issues of infertility, it might lessen the stress of the entire experience!
Infertility Lingo: Terms That You Should Know Part 5
Infertility Lingo: Terms That You Should Know Part 1
Infertility Lingo: Terms That You Should Know Part 2
Infertility Lingo: Terms That You Should Know Part 3
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