C

D

E

Egg: the female reproductive cell. The ovaries contain the female reproductive cell, called the egg. The ovaries are filled with follicles. Follicles are fluid-filled structures in which the egg grows to maturity.

F

Female factor: can include any cause in the female reproductive system that makes conception more difficult. To name a few…failure to ovulate, problems in the menstrual cycle, structural problems of the reproductive system, failure of an egg to mature properly, implantation failure, Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroids, autoimmune disorders etc.

Fertilization: The process of combining the male sperm, with the female egg. The product of fertilization is a cell called a zygote.

Follicles: fluid-filled structures in the ovaries, in which the egg grows to maturity.

G

H

I

IUI : intrauterine insemination, a procedure that puts sperm directly inside the uterus, which helps sperm get closer to the egg.

IVF : in vitro fertilization, is a type of fertility treatment where eggs are combined with sperm outside the body in a lab.

J

K

L

M

Male factor: typically referring to abnormal sperm production (in sperm concentration and/or motility and/or morphology), blockage of delivery of sperm or low sperm production.

Morphology: refers to the size, shape and appearance of a man’s sperm, which when abnormal can decrease fertility and make it more difficult to fertilize the woman’s egg.

Motility: the ability of sperm to move or swim efficiently through the female partner’s reproductive system in order to fertilize an egg.

N

O

Ovaries: the reproductive organ in females. Ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands located on either side of your uterus. They produce and store eggs and make hormones (like estrogen and progesterone) that control the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. During ovulation, one of your ovaries releases an egg.

Ovulation: Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovary, pushed down the fallopian tube, and made available to be fertilized. Every month an egg will mature within one of the ovaries.

P

PCOS : polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition in which female hormones are out of balance. Women with PCOS are affected by this imbalance with an array of health issues (which can include difficulty getting pregnant) and symptoms that vary on a case-by-case basis.

Q

R

S

Sperm: the male reproductive cell.

T

U

Uterus: The uterus (or womb) is the female reproductive organ in which a baby develops before birth; the organ for containing and nourishing the embryo and fetus from the time the fertilized egg is implanted to when the fetus is born.

V

W

X

Y

Z

Zygote: a fertilized egg cell that results from the union of a female egg with a male sperm. When the two halves become a whole! The first cell of a new human that is being made. In the embryonic development of humans, the zygote stage is brief and is followed by cleavage, when the single cell becomes subdivided into smaller cells