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Glossary
Androgen – Hormones that govern the development of male sexual organs and male characteristics e.g. sperm production, hair growth, deep voice.
Andrology – The study of conditions specific to the male reproductive system.
Anovulation – Menstrual cycles in which an egg is not produced.
Asthenozoospermia – Poor motility of sperm, ie. they don’t swim forward well.
Azoospermia – An absence of sperm in the ejaculate.
Cervical Mucus – A secretion from the lining of the cervical canal that helps protect and nourish the sperm as they move towards the egg.
Cervix – The neck or opening of the uterus, which protrudes into the vagina.
Cilia – Very small, hair-like structures that assist movement e.g. those lining the fallopian tubes assist with the movement of the egg and sperm.
Concentration of Motile Sperm – The quantity of motile sperm per milliliter of semen. motile sperm are those sperm that can readily swim to fertilize an egg.
Endometriosis – The presence of endometrium (tissue lining of the uterus) outside the uterus within the pelvic cavity. This can appear anywhere within the pelvis and even the lungs, often causing pain, cramping and scar tissue. Endometriosis can cause problems with conceiving naturally.
Endometrium – The tissue lining the uterus. It is cast off during the woman's menstrual period, and regenerates getting thicker to provide a nourishing environment for a fertilized egg.
Fallopian Tubes – A pair of tubes where the egg travels from the ovary to the uterus. Fertilization of the egg takes place as the egg travels through the fallopian tube. Blockages in the fallopian tubes (often caused by endometriosis, Chlamydia, etc) can lead to problems getting pregnant.
Follicle – Fluid filled sac within the ovary containing a developing egg.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone – A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain. In women, follicle stimulating hormone stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles, which allows for the egg to mature prior to ovulation. High levels of FSH can cause the egg to be released before it has fully matured, making the egg incapable of fertilization.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) –A hormone produced by the placenta that increases in pregnancy. At-home pregnancy tests measure levels of hCG in urine.
Infertility – The clinical definition of infertility is the inability to achieve a successful pregnancy after one year of well-timed, unprotected intercourse. This doesn’t mean that you cannot conceive, but you may benefit from medical assistance.
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)– A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain. It acts with Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) to stimulate ovulation to take place in the female and the release of testosterone from the testes in the male. Many ovulation tests measure the surge of LH to determine when ovulation will occur.
Menopause – The end of menstruation in the female, occurring usually around the age of 50, when the ovaries stop releasing eggs and estrogen levels decline.
Morphology – The form or shape of the sperm. Poor morphology can cause problems when trying to conceive as the shape of the sperm can affect their ability to swim and also their ability to penetrate the egg.
Motility – For fertility purposes, sperm must be motile, which is the ability of sperm to readily swim in order to fertilize an egg. Fertell measures motile sperm. The World Health Organization (WHO) guideline is 20 million sperm per milliliter of semen, 50% of which should be motile. Fertell measures according to these standards, with a threshold of 10 million motile sperm per ml. Poor sperm motility can lead to difficulties in conceiving because the sperm may not be able to reach the egg.
Ovaries– The structures in which the eggs are developed and released during ovulation. They produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone
ovarian reserve– Refers to a woman’s fertility potential in the absence of any problems in the reproductive tract (fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina). It mainly depends on the number and quality of eggs in the ovaries and how well the ovarian follicles are responding to the hormonal signals from the brain.
Ovulation – The release of the developed egg from the ovary. The egg is released when the ovarian follicle opens in response to a hormonal signal. Ovulation typically occurs around fourteen or fifteen days from the first day of the woman's last menstrual cycle.
Ovulation Prediction Kit - A home test kit that measures a surge of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) to determine the days when the female is most fertile, i.e., most likely to get pregnant.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – A condition where multiple cysts appear in the ovary. Abnormal hormone imbalance can arise causing problems with ovulation and therefore causing problems getting pregnant.
pregnancy test – A test that typically measures levels of hCG in urine to determine if a woman is pregnant.
Secondary Infertility – The clinical definition of is the inability to achieve a successful pregnancy after having previous children. This is more common than primary infertility, which is the inability to achieve a successful pregnancy after one year of well-timed, unprotected intercourse. This doesn’t mean that you cannot conceive additional children, but you may benefit from medical assistance.
semen – The fluid released from the penis at orgasm which contains sperm and secretions from the prostate gland.
Semen Analysis – An examination of semen to determine, among other things, the number of sperm, their shapes, and their ability to move.
Testes– The male reproductive organs producing testosterone and sperm.
Testosterone – Male sex hormone produced in the testes that triggers the development of sperm.
Varicocele – A varicose (swollen) vein in the scrotum, which can block tubes, causing problems conceiving.
Vas Deferens – The tube from each testicle, which conveys sperm to the urethra. If the tubes are twisted and/or blocked, it may be hard to achieve conception because the sperm cannot pass through the tubes.
