Terms about infertility and MS that you may need to know. If anything should be added, please send an email to jess@infertilityandms.com
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AMH:
While not the full picture of ones’ fertility, the anti-Müllerian hormone blood test is a measure of ovarian reserve. A score under 1 shows a low egg reserve, which can also indicate that less quality eggs are available.
Blastocyst:
A cluster of dividing cells made by a fertilized egg; the early stage of an embryo.
Chemical miscarriage or chemical pregnancy :
A miscarriage that occurs within the first five weeks of pregnancy. These account for about 50-75% of all pregnancies and many people don’t realize that they were pregnant. Even if it’s called a ‘chemical’, it was still a very real pregnancy and miscarriage.
Contrast :
Sometimes required during an MRI. A dye is injected via IV, which allows the images to show up more clearly.
Corpus luteum cyst :
A mass that sometimes grow on the corpus luteum, a structure in your ovaries that makes important pregnancy hormones.
DMT:
A disease-modifying therapy is a treatment for multiple sclerosis. It is not a cure, but can limit relapses and slow disease progression.
Ectopic pregnancy :
When a fertilized egg implants and grows outside the main cavity of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. This requires immediate surgery when discovered, as the egg can rupture, cause internal bleeding, and be life-threatening.
Egg retrieval:
A technique used in IVF that removes eggs from the ovaries, enabling fertilization outside the body.
Embryo:
A fertilized egg
Embryo Transfer:
In IVF, this is when a blastocyst is medically transferred to the mother’s uterus. This is not to be confused with a round of IVF.
Endometrium:
The lining of the uterus. The body prepares it to an optimal thickness in order to facilitate embryo implantation.
Epidural:
An epidural is an injection in your back to stop you feeling pain in part of your body. It is commonly given to women when giving birth.
GnRH shot:
A Gonadotropin-releasing hormone shot stimulates the pituitary gland to produce LH and follicle-stimulating hormones. It’s complicated, but it supports embryo development in IVF.
HSG test:
A Hysterosalpingography is an X-ray test using dye to outline the internal shape of the uterus and show whether the fallopian tubes are blocked.
Intended Parents (IP):
A term in egg donation and surrogacy that refers to the parents of the child rather than the donor of genetic material or carrier of the baby.
IVF:
In-vitro fertilization is a complex process used when someone has trouble conceiving naturally. A woman is given hormone injections for a week or more that make multiple eggs develop. These eggs are taken out of her body and fertilized in a lab by injecting a single sperm into the egg or mixing the egg with sperm in a Petri dish. The embryo, is transferred into the uterus in hopes of resulting in pregnancy.
Miscarriage or pregnancy loss :
A clinical miscarriage is the unexpected ending of a pregnancy during weeks 6-20 of gestation. About 1 in 4-5 pregnancies result in a clinical miscarriage. Miscarriages that occur 5 weeks or earlier are usually called chemical pregnancies.
Misoprostol:
Tablets either swallowed by mouth or inserted into the vagina to stimulate the uterus in order to expel a pregnancy. These can be used to manage a missed miscarriage or in an elective abortion.
Missed miscarriage or silent miscarriage:
A type of miscarriage where the body doesn’t it is miscarrying, so bleeding and passing of the fetus must be induced with medication.
Nexplanon:
A tiny, thin rod (about the size of a matchstick) inserted by a doctor under the skin of your upper arm. It releases the hormone progestin to stop pregnancy.
Primary infertility :
Generally defined as the inability to conceive or carry a baby to term after trying for one year.
Progesterone suppositories:
Vaginal tablets that boost progesterone levels in women during IVF, which may support implantation.
Recurrent miscarriage:
When a person experiences two or more miscarriages. It is not actually as uncommon as people think.
Round of IVF:
A round of IVF is the process of taking injectable drugs to make many eggs, then the mature eggs are retrieved via surgery. A round can then also involve an embryo transfer.
Secondary infertility :
The inability to conceive or carry a baby to term after previously giving birth.
Spotting :
Light vaginal bleeding that commonly happens in both early pregnancy and at the beginning or end of a period.
Trigger shot:
This contains the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and triggers an ovary to mature and release an egg. It is also used in donor egg IVF cycles.
Two week wait:
Often referred to as the worst part of IVF, this is the time period from when you ovulate (or have an embryo transfer) to when you can take a pregnancy test.
Vaginal ultrasound :
An ultrasound machine containing a wand that is inserted into the vagina. They don’t really show this in the movies because the ‘over the belly’ one is cuter, but the vaginal one is used in early pregnancy and gives a better picture of the inside of the uterus.