A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - X - Y - Z Abortion - Spontaneous: A pregnancy loss during the first twenty weeks of gestation. Habitual: When a woman has had three or more miscarriages. Incomplete: An abortion after which some tissue remains inside the uterus. A D&C must be performed to remove the tissue and prevent complications. Missed: The fetus dies in the uterus but there is no bleeding or cramping. A D&C will be needed to remove the fetal remains and prevent complications. Therapeutic: A procedure used to terminate a pregnancy before the fetus can survive on its own. Threatened: Spotting or bleeding that occurs early in the pregnancy. May progress to spontaneous abortion. Acrosome - The enzymes in a sperm's head that allows it to make a hole in the coating around an egg, penetrate and fertilize the egg. Adhesion - Scar tissue occurring in the abdominal cavity, fallopian tubes, or inside the uterus. Adhesions can interfere with transport of the egg and implantation of the embryo in the uterus. Agglutination - Clumping together. Sperm may clump together due to infection, inflammation or antibodies. AH - See Assisted Hatching. AI - See Artificial Insemination, Donor Insemination (DI), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). AID - Artificial Insemination Donor. See Artificial Insemination, Donor Insemination (DI), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). AIH - Artificial Insemination Husband. See Artificial Insemination, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). Amenorrhea - The absence of menstruation. Primary Amenorrhea afflicts a woman who has never menstruated. Secondary Amenorrhea afflicts a woman who has menstruated at one time, but who has not had a period for six months or more. Amniocentesis - A test where amniotic fluid is aspirated to test the fetus for genetic abnormalities. Andrologist - A physician-scientist who performs laboratory evaluations of male fertility.. Usually affiliated with a fertility treatment center working on in vitro fertilization. Anovulation - The absence of ovulation. Anteverted Uterus - Uterus that tips forward toward the bladder. Antibodies - Chemicals made by the body to fight or attack foreign substances entering the body. Normally they prevent infection; however, when they attack the sperm or fetus, they cause infertility. Sperm antibodies may be made by either the man or the woman. Antigen - A substance that causes antibodies to form. Antisperm Antibodies (ASA) - Antibodies are produced by the immune system to fight off foreign substances,like bacteria. Antisperm antibodies attach themselves to sperm and inhibit movement and their ability to fertilize. Either the man or the woman may produce sperm antibodies. Artificial Insemination (AI) - Placing sperm into the vagina, uterus or fallopian tubes through artificial means instead of by coitus - usually injected through a catheter or cannula after being washed. This procedure is used for both donor (AID) and husband's (AIH) sperm. This technique is used to overcome sexual performance problems, to circumvent sperm-mucus interaction problems, to maximize the potential for poor semen, and for using donor sperm. See Intrauterine Insemination. ASA - See Antisperm Antibodies. Aspermia - The absence of sperm and semen. Aspiration - Suctioning of fluid. For example, suctioning the fluid from a follicle to retrieve an egg. Assisted Hatching - Thinning of or mechanical nicking of the zona pellucida prior to transferring the embryo into the uterus. Assisted Reproductive Technology - Several procedures employed to bring about conception without sexual intercourse, including IUI, IVF, GIFT and ZIFT. Asthenozoospermia - Low sperm motility. Asymptomatic - Having no symptoms. Autoimmune - An immune reaction against one's own tissue. AZH - See Assisted Hatching Azoospermia - Absence of sperm in ejaculate. Obstructive Azoospermia: The result of obstruction in either the upper or lower male reproductive tract (epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles or ejaculatory ducts). Sperm production may be normal (which may be verified through testicular biopsy), but the obstruction is preventing the sperm from being ejaculated. Some causes of obstructive azoospermia are vasectomy, congenital absence of vas deferens, scarring from past infections, and hernia operations. Non-obstructive Azoospermia: Severely impaired or non-existent sperm production. Some sperm may be found and extracted directly from the testicles. Back to top