A male sex hormone.

Opening of the embryo’s zona (shell) using a laser, for example, to facilitate implantation of the embryo in the uterine lining.

From Greek: kryo = cooled, frozen. Eggs in an embryonic state can be frozen using cryopreservation.

When the body’s natural release of hormones is systematically decreased through drugs.

Funnel-shaped tubes of muscle that guide sperm to the egg and the fertilised egg to the uterus.

Implantation of the embryo in a fallopian tube instead of in the uterus.

The term embryo is used from the point at which hereditary genes fuse. From the 13th week of pregnancy, the developing child is referred to as a foetus.

Transfer to the uterus of an egg that has been fertilised outside the body.

From Greek: endo = inside, metra = uterus. Frequent cause of infertility. In this condition, tissue, which normally lines the uterus, grows outside the uterus and can cause scars.

Ovarian follicles filled with fluid in which the eggs are located. Follicles mature in the ovaries.

Piercing an ovarian follicle with a very fine hypodermic needle to obtain an egg.

Follicle-stimulating hormone which promotes the development of ovarian follicles and eggs.

Lining heavily supplied with blood which is periodically formed by the uterus. The embryo implants in the endometrium.

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. From Greek: gonos = reproduction, trop = influence on. Hormone responsible for releasing LH and FSH.

A drug used to suspend the release of LH and FSH (after initial release of these hormones).

From Greek: anti = against. A drug used to prevent the release of the fertility hormones LH and FSH.

Infection caused by the AIDS virus.

Information messengers between different organs in the body.

From Latin: chorion = amnion, gonaden = gonads, trop = to affect. A hormone produced during pregnancy which is used as a drug to stimulate ovulation. HCG is extracted from the urine of pregnant women or is biologically engineered.

From Latin: menopausa = menopause. HMG is extracted from the urine of post-menopausal women. HMG is used to simulate the ovaries.

From Latin: intra = in, cytoplasma = cell content, spermium = sperm cell. In vitro fertilisation technique in which a single sperm is injected into an egg using a fine hypodermic needle.

From Latin: in vitro = in a test glass. IVF means fertilisation outside the body.

Insemination is the transfer of sperm into the vagina or uterus using technical implements. During IUI, the sperm is placed in the uterus as close as possible to the egg.

The lutein phase is the period when the body produces progesterone. Support of the lutein phase is required if the woman does not produce enough progesterone.

A hormone that stimulates ovulation.

A benign tumour consisting of muscle tissue found in the uterus. Myoma can cause infertility or miscarriages.

From Latin: oestrus = sexual receptivity, gen = to cause. Oestrogen is a female sex hormone produced in the ovaries; it causes the endometrium to grow.

Not admitted to hospital (as opposed to inpatient).

Coupled female sex organs, the size of a plum, in which occytes (developable eggs) are produced. The ovaries produce the hormones oestrogen and progestagen (gestatio = pregnancy, gen = to cause).

The egg leaves the ovaries and passes into the fallopian tube.

Organ which supplies the child with nutrients. After the child is born, the placenta detaches itself from the uterine wall and is pushed out as “afterbirth”.

From Greek: kytis = bladder, and poly = multiple. Ovaries with many small cysts.

From Latin: pro = for, gestatio = pregnancy. Progesterone is produced by the yellow bodies. It prepares the endometrium for implantation of the embryo.

From Latin: lactis = milk. A hormone produced in the brain. It stimulates milk production.

A gland the size of a chestnut located below the bladder in men. The prostate gland secretes seminal fluid which aids sperm motility.

Ligation of the spermatic duct in men or of the ovaries in women to lead to sterility.

Physicians talk of sterility if no pregnancy occurs after having regular sexual intercourse for over a year. However, this is not necessarily a definitive state.

If there is no sperm in ejaculate, it is possible to extract it directly from the testicles (TESE – Testicular Sperm Extraction) or (epididymis) (MESA = microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration).

Hormone that stimulates the thyroid (glandula thyreoidea).

Pear-shaped organ in which the child is carried to term. The uterus consists of the cervix, the neck of the uterus and the uterine body. The two fallopian tubes lead into the uterus.

After ovulation, the remains of the ovarian follicle turn yellow, hence the name - yellow body.