Antega India · Learning Centre
A–Z Fertility Glossary
415 fertility terms explained in plain language.
415 terms
A
Costs that can arise mid-treatment and are easy to miss when comparing headline quotes.
A condition where endometrial-type tissue grows within the muscular wall of the uterus, causing pain and heavy bleeding.
Surgery to divide scar tissue (adhesions) that binds pelvic organs together.
Extra laboratory methods for choosing sperm before ICSI, offered at added cost with limited proven benefit for most patients.
Who may access ART treatment in India, and any age limits, are set by the Act and Rules and can change.
An IVF stimulation protocol using a GnRH agonist medicine to suppress the pituitary before stimulation.
Exposure to high air pollution levels is being studied as a possible factor affecting fertility.
Higher alcohol intake is linked to reduced fertility and is best discussed openly with your care team.
The only form of surrogacy lawful in India: no payment to the surrogate beyond medical expenses and insurance.
The absence of menstrual periods, which can be a normal life stage or a sign of an underlying condition.
The inability to ejaculate semen, whether during intercourse, masturbation or both.
A gestational sac that develops without an embryo forming inside it.
Having an abnormal number of chromosomes (extra or missing).
The absence of ovulation in a menstrual cycle.
Infertility caused by absent or infrequent ovulation, one of the most common and treatable causes.
An IVF stimulation protocol using a GnRH antagonist medicine to prevent premature ovulation.
A blood test that estimates how many eggs remain in the ovaries.
The multi-drug course used to treat confirmed tuberculosis, prescribed under NTEP protocols.
Supplements such as CoQ10, myo-inositol and DHEA are sometimes used, but evidence is mixed and they are not a cure for infertility.
An autoimmune condition linked to blood clotting and pregnancy loss, diagnosed by specific antibody blood tests.
An ultrasound count of small resting follicles used to estimate ovarian reserve.
The state or union territory official responsible for registering and inspecting ART and surrogacy clinics.
The Indian law governing assisted reproductive technology clinics and ART banks.
The detailed rules made under the ART Act, updated by later amendments including in 2026.
A registered organisation that collects, screens and supplies donor gametes in India.
The registered ART bank is the only lawful source of donor eggs, sperm and embryos in India.
A facility offering assisted reproduction procedures, which must be registered under the ART Act.
Scar tissue (adhesions) inside the uterine cavity, often after surgery or infection, which can affect periods and fertility.
Laboratory add-ons that create an opening in the zona pellucida, or add a substance to the transfer fluid, with uncertain overall benefit.
A laboratory technique, usually with calcium ionophore, used alongside ICSI for specific egg-activation problems.
Medical techniques used to help conception, such as IVF, ICSI and IUI, regulated by Indian law.
Reduced sperm motility, meaning fewer sperm than usual are moving actively.
Traditional Indian medicine systems some people use alongside fertility care; always tell your treatment team.
No sperm found in the ejaculate on semen analysis, confirmed on at least two occasions.
B
An ultrasound scan at the start of an IVF cycle to check the ovaries and uterus before stimulation begins.
The pregnancy hormone measured to confirm and track early pregnancy.
An inherited blood disorder affecting haemoglobin, common in many Indian communities.
Both fallopian tubes are blocked, so natural conception is very unlikely.
A very early pregnancy loss detected only by a rising then falling beta-hCG blood test, before anything is seen on scan.
A more developed embryo, usually reached by Day 5 or Day 6, with a fluid-filled cavity and two distinct cell types.
The proportion of fertilised eggs from a cycle that go on to reach the blastocyst stage.
Light spotting is common after egg collection, but heavier or worsening bleeding needs prompt clinic review.
A weight-for-height measure sometimes used in fertility assessment; not a judgement of a person's worth or effort.
Genes linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk, relevant to fertility planning and timing.
C
A medicine used to lower high prolactin levels, which can otherwise disrupt ovulation.
A gap or niche in the uterine wall at a previous caesarean scar, which can cause bleeding or affect fertility.
High caffeine intake is sometimes linked to reduced fertility; moderation is generally advised.
An IVF cycle stopped before egg retrieval or transfer because of a monitoring finding during treatment.
The flickering heartbeat seen on ultrasound, usually from around six weeks of pregnancy.
A person with one copy of a gene change for a recessive condition, usually without symptoms.
Testing to check whether a person carries a gene change for a recessive condition.
India's central medicines regulator.
A certificate confirming a commissioning couple or surrogate meets the legal conditions to proceed with surrogacy.
A certificate confirming a commissioning couple's medical need for surrogacy, required before starting the process.
A weakness of the cervix that can lead to painless dilation and pregnancy loss in the second trimester.
Narrowing of the cervical canal that can make procedures such as embryo transfer more difficult.
A genetic condition where both vas deferens are missing from birth, causing obstructive azoospermia.
A common bacterial STI that often has no symptoms but can silently damage the fallopian tubes.
A test done during laparoscopy that uses dye to check if the fallopian tubes are open.
A change in the usual number or structure of chromosomes.
Persistent low-grade inflammation of the uterine lining, sometimes linked to implantation failure.
An early embryo, usually seen on Day 2 or Day 3, made up of a small number of dividing cells.
A pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound, with at least a gestational sac seen inside the uterus.
An oral medicine used to stimulate ovulation, particularly in women with PCOS.
Paying a surrogate beyond permitted expenses: prohibited in India under the Surrogacy Act.
A married couple who use their own or donor gametes with a gestational surrogate under the Surrogacy Act.
The stage, usually around Day 4, when embryo cells merge together to form a solid ball called a morula.
The point at which fertilisation results in a viable pregnancy.
A marriage or partnership between blood relatives, relevant to recessive genetic conditions.
Mixing eggs and prepared sperm in a dish so fertilisation can happen without injection.
The temporary hormone-producing structure formed after ovulation.
A cyst that forms from the structure left behind after an egg is released.
Freezing and storing eggs, sperm or embryos at very low temperature for later use.
A testis that has not descended fully into the scrotum, usually identified in infancy.
Extremely few sperm found in the ejaculate, only visible after concentrating the sample.
Stopping a treatment cycle before insemination, egg collection or transfer due to a monitoring finding.
D
An adrenal androgen sometimes tested when androgen excess is suspected.
A benign ovarian cyst containing tissue such as hair, skin or fat, present from birth.
A transfer procedure that is technically more challenging than usual, for example due to the shape or position of the uterus or cervix.
A lower than expected number of remaining eggs for a woman's age.
Blockage near the tube's outer, fimbrial end, close to the ovary.
A district-level board that certifies medical facts needed for surrogacy, such as the certificate of essentiality.
The largest, lead follicle that matures and releases an egg during a natural cycle.
Conceiving using donor eggs, donor sperm or donor embryos supplied through a registered ART bank.
How donor identity is protected and recorded under India's ART framework.
An egg provided by a screened donor through a registered ART bank for use in another person's treatment.
The statutory age, health and prior-donation limits a person must meet to donate eggs or sperm in India.
An embryo, created from donated eggs and sperm or donated by another couple, used for embryo transfer.
IUI performed using sperm from a registered sperm bank donor rather than a partner.
Medical, genetic and infectious-disease tests every gamete donor must pass before donation is accepted.
Sperm provided by a screened donor through a registered ART bank for use in fertility treatment.
Costs linked to using donor eggs or sperm, on top of standard IVF fees.
A person born from treatment using donor eggs, donor sperm or a donor embryo.
Transferring two embryos in a single cycle, which raises the chance of a multiple pregnancy.
An inherited, X-linked condition causing progressive muscle weakness, mainly in boys.
Two ovarian stimulations and egg retrievals performed within a single menstrual cycle.
Painful periods, which can be a normal variant or a sign of an underlying condition such as endometriosis.
E
A pregnancy developing outside the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube; a medical emergency if it ruptures.
Collecting and freezing unfertilised eggs to preserve the option of pregnancy later.
How likely an egg is to fertilise and develop into a healthy embryo.
The minor procedure to collect mature eggs from the ovaries, usually under sedation.
A blockage of the short ducts that carry sperm and fluid into the urethra during ejaculation.
When an embryo stops dividing during laboratory culture before reaching the intended stage.
Removing a few cells from an embryo for genetic testing before transfer.
Freezing embryos created by IVF/ICSI for use in a later frozen embryo transfer.
Growing embryos in the laboratory incubator between fertilisation and transfer or freezing.
Two appearance features embryologists note during grading: cell fragments, and cells with more than one nucleus.
Vitrifying and storing embryos, usually at the blastocyst stage, for use in a later cycle.
A description of an embryo's laboratory appearance on a given day, not a guarantee of pregnancy or its absence.
Ongoing storage of frozen embryos at a registered clinic or ART bank, usually with a recurring fee and consent renewal.
The recurring charge for freezing and storing embryos, usually billed annually.
The procedure of placing an embryo into the uterus; the procedure itself is not the same as implantation.
The process of bringing a vitrified embryo back to body temperature before transfer, and checking it survives.
The first visible outline of the developing embryo, seen on ultrasound inside the gestational sac.
Workplace schemes that may help with fertility treatment costs or leave, where offered.
A rare situation where no eggs are found in the follicles at egg retrieval despite apparently normal stimulation.
A procedure to take a small sample of the uterine lining for testing.
Thickening of the uterine lining due to excess growth of endometrial cells, sometimes needing treatment before pregnancy attempts.
A small growth of endometrial tissue projecting into the uterine cavity, which can affect implantation.
The uterine lining's readiness to allow an embryo to implant during a specific window in the cycle.
Genital tuberculosis affecting the uterine lining, which can affect implantation.
A cyst on the ovary formed by endometriosis tissue, sometimes called a 'chocolate cyst'.
A condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside the uterus, often causing pain and sometimes infertility.
The uterine lining, where an embryo implants.
Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection sufficient for intercourse.
Having the normal expected number of chromosomes.
A larger than expected number of follicles growing during ovarian stimulation.
F
When none, or very few, of the collected eggs show normal fertilisation.
The paired tubes that carry the egg from the ovary to the uterus, where fertilisation happens.
The chance of conceiving in a single menstrual cycle.
Tuberculosis affecting the female reproductive organs, a recognised cause of infertility in India.
The days each cycle when intercourse is most likely to lead to pregnancy.
The fusion of egg and sperm to form an early embryo.
The laboratory step, usually the morning after egg collection, that confirms whether eggs have fertilised.
When none of the eggs collected fertilise during an IVF or ICSI cycle, despite the procedure being carried out normally.
The natural ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy.
Freezing eggs, sperm, embryos or ovarian tissue to protect the chance of a future biological child.
Freezing eggs, sperm or embryos before hormone therapy or surgery that may affect future fertility.
A B-vitamin recommended before and during early pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects.
A fluid-filled sac in the ovary that contains and matures an egg.
The pituitary hormone that drives egg and sperm development.
Repeated ultrasound scans that track follicle growth during a treatment cycle.
The first half of the menstrual cycle, when an egg matures.
An intermediate genetic change linked to premature ovarian insufficiency and fragile X syndrome risk.
An IVF cycle in which all embryos are frozen rather than transferred fresh, for transfer in a later cycle.
Transferring an embryo in the same cycle in which the eggs were collected, without freezing.
Transferring an embryo that was previously vitrified and stored, after warming it in a later cycle.
The separate charge for thawing and transferring a previously frozen embryo.
G
A person who provides eggs or sperm for someone else's fertility treatment through an ART bank.
Specialist support to understand genetic test results and reproductive options.
How pregnancy weeks are counted after IVF, using the embryo transfer date rather than a last period.
The fluid-filled sac seen on ultrasound that is usually the first visible sign of a pregnancy in the uterus.
Surrogacy in which the surrogate has no genetic link to the child, as required under Indian law.
A medicine that initially stimulates and then suppresses the pituitary gland's hormone signals during IVF.
A medicine that quickly blocks the pituitary hormone surge to prevent premature ovulation during IVF.
Chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other treatment that can damage egg or sperm production.
A hormone that acts on the ovaries or testes to drive reproduction.
Injectable hormones used to stimulate the ovaries to grow follicles during fertility treatment.
A bacterial STI that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and tubal damage if untreated.
The emotional impact of losing a pregnancy at any stage, and why acknowledging it matters.
H
A group of inherited disorders affecting the structure or production of haemoglobin.
An inherited bleeding disorder, usually X-linked, affecting blood clotting.
An ovarian cyst that has bled internally, usually a self-resolving functional cyst.
A blastocyst that is breaking out of its outer shell, a step that normally happens before implantation.
How Indian health insurance policies do or do not cover fertility investigations and treatment.
Menstrual bleeding that is heavier or longer than typical, sometimes linked to fibroids, polyps, or hormonal causes.
A viral liver infection routinely screened for before fertility treatment in India.
A viral liver infection screened for before fertility treatment in India.
A rare situation where a pregnancy inside the uterus and an ectopic pregnancy occur at the same time.
Excess coarse, dark hair growth in a male pattern in women, often linked to raised androgens.
A virus affecting the immune system; India's ART framework requires HIV screening before fertility treatment.
Testing embryos for tissue-type matching to a sibling, tightly restricted and rarely used.
An injectable fertility medicine containing both FSH and LH activity, used in ovarian stimulation.
A fluid-filled swelling around the testis that is usually separate from fertility problems.
A fallopian tube blocked and swollen with fluid, usually from past infection or damage.
Higher-than-normal levels or effects of male-type hormones in women.
A persistently raised blood prolactin level.
An overactive thyroid gland, which can disrupt menstrual cycles and needs treatment before pregnancy.
Reduced production of sex hormones by the ovaries or testes.
Low testosterone and sperm production due to insufficient pituitary hormone signalling.
Absent periods caused by the brain reducing reproductive hormone signals, often linked to stress, low weight, or intense exercise.
An underactive thyroid gland, which can disrupt ovulation and menstrual regularity if untreated.
An X-ray test that checks whether the fallopian tubes are open using a dye.
A procedure using a thin camera through the cervix to view and treat the uterine cavity.
I
When an embryo attaches to and embeds in the uterine lining.
The short period when the endometrium is receptive to an embryo; not something symptoms can reliably reveal.
Fertility treatment where eggs and sperm are combined outside the body to create embryos.
Terms used by single people, LGBTQ+ people and others building a family, and a note on what is legally available in India.
The mandatory pre-treatment infection tests required under India's ART framework.
Not conceiving after a year of regular unprotected intercourse.
The written consent that patients, donors and clinics must complete before ART procedures under Indian law.
The different ways genetic conditions can pass from parents to children.
A hormone marker of ovarian follicle activity, less commonly used than AMH.
A pre-filled or refillable pen-style device used to give some fertility medicines as measured injections.
Reduced sensitivity to insulin, closely linked with PCOS and fertility.
A married couple who intend to undergo ART treatment such as IVF using their own or donor gametes.
A woman who intends to undergo ART treatment on her own under the conditions set by the ART Act and Rules.
Bleeding or spotting between expected menstrual periods, which should be evaluated by a clinician.
Two uncommon but higher-risk forms of ectopic pregnancy that implant in the tube's uterine end or a previous C-section scar.
A laboratory technique that injects a single sperm directly into an egg to assist fertilisation.
A fibroid located within the muscular wall of the uterus, not distorting the cavity in most cases.
A method of giving medicine as an injection into muscle, used for some fertility medicines.
Placing washed, concentrated sperm directly into the uterus around ovulation.
India's insurance regulator.
Iron is needed for healthy blood; deficiency (anaemia) is common in India and worth checking before conception.
What an IVF cycle in India typically covers, and what is usually quoted separately.
The full sequence of steps in one attempt at IVF treatment, from stimulation to pregnancy test.
Statistics such as live birth rate describe outcomes across many patients, not a personal prediction.
K
L
Charges for embryology laboratory work such as fertilisation, embryo culture and grading.
Keyhole surgery using a camera through the abdomen to view or treat pelvic organs.
TB bacteria present in the body without active disease or symptoms.
An aromatase-inhibitor medicine commonly used off-label for ovulation induction in India.
A raised number of white blood cells in semen, which may or may not need treatment.
The normal process by which freshly ejaculated semen changes from a gel to a liquid.
The second half of the cycle, after ovulation, when progesterone rises.
The pituitary hormone whose surge triggers ovulation.
An inherited condition raising the chance of certain cancers, including endometrial cancer.
M
When sperm-related or male reproductive tract factors contribute to a couple not conceiving.
Mature eggs (MII) can be fertilised; immature eggs (MI or GV stage) usually cannot without further development.
The cost of stimulation and support medicines, which is separate from most package quotes.
The process of mixing a powdered fertility medicine with a liquid before it can be injected.
The natural, permanent end of periods and the transition years leading up to it.
The monthly hormonal cycle that prepares the body for pregnancy.
A cluster of insulin resistance, abdominal weight gain, and blood pressure/lipid changes often seen with PCOS.
A medicine that improves insulin sensitivity, sometimes used alongside fertility treatment in PCOS.
A specialised microsurgical technique to search testicular tissue for sperm in difficult cases.
IVF approaches using lower doses of stimulation medicine to retrieve fewer eggs with fewer side effects.
The loss of a pregnancy before it can survive independently, usually before twenty weeks.
A pregnancy that has stopped developing but has not yet caused bleeding or been passed naturally.
Ultrasound scans during ovarian stimulation to track follicle growth and endometrial thickness.
A health condition caused by a change in a single gene.
An embryo with a mixture of chromosomally normal and abnormal cells.
A congenital condition where the uterus and upper vagina do not develop, though ovaries are usually normal.
A congenital variation in the shape of the uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix, or upper vagina present from birth.
A pregnancy with more than one baby, which carries higher health risks for both mother and babies.
When ovulation-inducing medicines stimulate more than the intended number of mature follicles.
Growing a sample in the lab to confirm active tuberculosis, considered a more definitive TB test.
Surgery to remove uterine fibroids while preserving the uterus.
N
The official government website for the ART and Surrogacy Acts, Rules and current notifications.
The official Indian record of registered ART clinics, ART banks and surrogacy clinics.
The national body that advises government on ART and surrogacy policy and standards.
Preparing for a frozen embryo transfer around a person's own ovulation, with or without limited hormone support.
IUI timed to a woman's own spontaneous ovulation, without fertility medicines.
IVF that retrieves the single egg a woman would naturally develop in a cycle, without stimulation medicines.
Most or all sperm in the sample are found to be dead on vitality testing.
When fertilised eggs do not develop into blastocyst-stage embryos by day five or six of culture.
When the egg retrieval procedure yields no eggs despite follicles being present on ultrasound.
When an IVF or ICSI cycle does not produce any embryo suitable for transfer or freezing.
No sperm in the ejaculate because sperm production in the testis is severely reduced or absent.
O
No sperm in the ejaculate because of a blockage, even though sperm production is normal.
Workplace or environmental exposure to certain chemicals or heat may affect fertility in some settings.
The main oestrogen hormone that reflects follicle growth and prepares the uterine lining.
Oestrogen medicine used to prepare the uterine lining before a medicated frozen embryo transfer.
Infrequent or irregular ovulation, rather than complete absence of it.
A combination of low sperm count, reduced motility and reduced typical shape together.
Infrequent menstrual periods, usually occurring more than 35 days apart, often reflecting irregular ovulation.
A sperm concentration below the standard reference range on semen analysis.
The field connecting cancer care with fertility preservation options before treatment starts.
A pregnancy that continues past the point of highest early loss risk, usually assessed around twelve weeks.
The medical term for an egg cell.
Inflammation of the testis or epididymis, often from infection, that can affect sperm quality.
Fluid-filled sacs on the ovary, most often harmless and linked to the normal cycle.
Surgery to remove an ovarian cyst while preserving the rest of the ovary.
A laparoscopic procedure that creates small punctures in the ovary to help ovulation in PCOS.
An exaggerated ovarian response to fertility medicines causing swelling, fluid shifts and, rarely, serious illness.
The number of eggs remaining in the ovaries, estimated indirectly through tests.
Using fertility medicines to encourage the ovaries to develop multiple mature eggs for IVF.
Surgically removing and freezing ovarian tissue as a fertility preservation option in select cases.
A twisting of the ovary that cuts off its blood supply, causing sudden severe pelvic pain and needing urgent care.
Surgery to move the ovaries out of a planned radiotherapy field to help protect them.
The measured size of an ovary on ultrasound, used alongside other reserve markers.
The release of a mature egg from the ovary, usually mid-cycle.
Using medicines to stimulate the ovary to release one or more mature eggs.
P
Pain during sex has recognised causes and can affect the chance of natural conception; it is worth investigating.
Legal parentage of a surrogacy-born child rests with the commissioning couple under the Surrogacy Act.
A gene change known to cause disease, versus one whose effect is not yet clear.
Patients have rights to informed consent, confidentiality and registered care, with a route to complain if these are not met.
A collection of infected fluid in the pelvis, a rare but serious complication that needs urgent treatment.
Bands of internal scar tissue that stick pelvic organs together and can affect fertility.
An uncommon infection of the pelvic organs that can follow egg retrieval, needing prompt clinic assessment.
An infection of the upper genital tract — uterus, tubes and ovaries — that can damage fertility.
An ultrasound scan of the uterus, ovaries and pelvis, done abdominally or vaginally.
Scar tissue involving the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal and pelvic cavity.
The additional charge for genetic testing of embryos, billed per embryo tested.
Testing embryos for the correct number of chromosomes before transfer.
Embryo testing for a specific single-gene condition already known in the family.
Embryo testing when a parent carries a balanced chromosome rearrangement.
A usually benign growth of the pituitary gland that can disrupt hormone levels controlling ovulation.
An ultrasound appearance of many small follicles, one feature used to diagnose PCOS.
A common hormonal condition causing irregular ovulation, and often excess androgens and polycystic-appearing ovaries.
Fewer eggs and follicles than expected growing during ovarian stimulation for IVF.
The concentration and motility of sperm remaining after laboratory washing, used to judge IUI suitability.
Health checks and lifestyle steps taken before trying to conceive, to support a healthy pregnancy.
A positive pregnancy test where no pregnancy has yet been seen on scan, in or outside the uterus.
Laboratory testing of cells from an embryo before transfer, alongside IVF.
Loss of normal ovarian function before the age of 40.
When ovulation occurs earlier than planned during a stimulated IVF or IUI cycle, before eggs can be collected.
Infertility in a couple who have never had a pregnancy.
Pregnancy tissue passed or removed after a miscarriage, which can sometimes be tested for a genetic cause.
The hormone that prepares and supports the uterine lining after ovulation.
Progesterone medicine given after embryo transfer to support the uterine lining for possible implantation.
An IVF stimulation protocol using a progestin medicine to prevent premature ovulation.
Preparing the endometrium for frozen embryo transfer with hormone medicines rather than relying on natural ovulation.
Practices the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021 specifically bans, such as sex selection and unregistered treatment.
A pituitary hormone that, when raised, can suppress ovulation.
A benign pituitary tumour that secretes excess prolactin, commonly causing irregular periods or absent ovulation.
Two visible structures seen the morning after IVF that confirm normal fertilisation; other counts need a closer look.
Blockage at the end of the tube nearest the uterus.
A fallopian tube filled with pus, usually during an active pelvic infection.
R
Starting ovarian stimulation for egg freezing at any point in the menstrual cycle, not only at its start.
Legal duties on ART clinics and banks to keep accurate records and protect patient and donor confidentiality.
Repeated failure of good-quality embryos to implant after transfer, a term without a single agreed definition.
The loss of two or more pregnancies, prompting investigation into possible underlying causes.
Only clinics listed on the National ART & Surrogacy Registry may lawfully offer ART treatment in India.
A facility permitted to carry out surrogacy procedures, registered under the Surrogacy Act.
The process by which an ART clinic or bank's legal status to operate is granted, renewed, suspended or withdrawn.
The life stage during which natural pregnancy is biologically possible.
An infection of the genital tract, which may or may not be sexually transmitted.
Injecting sperm into eggs that show no sign of fertilisation after conventional IVF, on the same day.
Pregnancy tissue that remains in the uterus after a miscarriage or delivery and may need further treatment.
Semen passes backward into the bladder at orgasm instead of leaving the body.
The widely used diagnostic checklist for PCOS, requiring two of three features to be present.
Non-sperm cells seen in semen that may be white blood cells or immature sperm-forming cells.
S
An ultrasound scan with fluid instilled into the uterus to check the uterine cavity.
Surgical removal of a fallopian tube, often for hydrosalpinx before IVF.
Inflammation of the fallopian tube, usually caused by an ascending infection.
Surgery to open a blocked fallopian tube to try to restore its function.
Difficulty conceiving again after a previous pregnancy.
Paying for fertility treatment directly, including loans or instalment plans offered by some clinics.
The basic laboratory test that assesses semen volume, sperm count, motility and shape.
How a semen sample is produced and handled for accurate testing.
The total amount of fluid produced in one ejaculate.
A markedly low sperm concentration, well below the standard reference range.
Both are prohibited in India: choosing a child's sex, and revealing or trying to learn it before or during pregnancy.
Erectile, ejaculatory and libido difficulties are common, treatable, and worth discussing openly in fertility care.
An infection passed between partners through sexual contact, some of which can affect fertility.
A puncture-proof container used to safely collect and dispose of used needles and syringes.
An inherited blood disorder causing red blood cells to become sickle-shaped.
Transferring one embryo in a cycle, the main way to reduce the chance of a multiple pregnancy.
Smoking and smokeless tobacco use are linked to reduced fertility in both women and men.
Motile sperm sticking together in clumps, noted during semen analysis.
The number of sperm present in each millilitre of semen.
A measure of breaks or damage in the genetic material carried inside sperm.
Freezing a semen sample so it can be used for future fertility treatment.
The shape and structure of sperm, assessed as part of a semen analysis.
How sperm move, graded as progressive, non-progressive or immotile.
The proportion of sperm in a sample that are alive, distinct from whether they are moving.
Laboratory processing of a semen sample to separate healthy motile sperm for IUI or IVF.
An inherited condition causing progressive muscle weakness, screened for as a carrier condition.
Dividing eggs from one cycle between conventional IVF and ICSI.
A clinical term for an absolute, irreversible inability to conceive.
IUI combined with ovulation-inducing medicines to encourage one or two follicles to mature.
The overall medicine plan used to control ovarian stimulation during IVF, chosen by the treating team.
Guidance on keeping fertility medicines safe during heat, power cuts and travel, following the label and pharmacist.
A small pool of blood between the gestational sac and the uterine wall, sometimes seen on early scans.
A mildly raised TSH with normal thyroid hormone levels, sometimes treated in fertility care.
A method of giving medicine as a shallow injection into the fatty layer just under the skin.
Reduced likelihood of natural conception, without ruling it out.
A fibroid that bulges into the uterine cavity, the type most likely to affect fertility and implantation.
A fibroid on the outer surface of the uterus, generally with the least impact on fertility.
Sources of medical, practical and emotional support available in India after a pregnancy loss.
Procedures to collect sperm directly from the epididymis or testis for use with ICSI.
An arrangement where a woman carries a pregnancy for another person or couple, regulated in India by the Surrogacy Act.
India's law permitting only altruistic gestational surrogacy under registered surrogacy clinics.
The detailed operational rules under the Surrogacy Act, updated by amendments including changes in 2024.
Mandatory insurance protecting a surrogate's health during and after the surrogacy pregnancy.
A woman who carries a pregnancy for a commissioning couple under the conditions set by the Surrogacy Act.
A bacterial STI that is screened for before fertility treatment and can affect pregnancy if untreated.
T
A molecular test for tuberculosis DNA, used cautiously in evaluating suspected genital TB.
Deciding how, whether and when to explain donor conception to a donor-conceived child.
A lower than expected proportion of sperm with a typical shape on semen analysis.
A medical emergency where the testis twists on its blood supply, needing urgent treatment.
The main male sex hormone, essential for sperm production.
A uterine lining thinner than typically expected around ovulation or embryo transfer, which can lower implantation chances.
An umbrella term for fertility treatment involving a donor or surrogate outside the intending parents.
Bleeding in early pregnancy while the pregnancy is still confirmed to be developing on scan.
A tendency towards abnormal blood clotting, sometimes tested for after recurrent pregnancy loss but not needed by everyone.
An antibody test used to detect autoimmune thyroid disease.
The pituitary hormone used to screen for thyroid problems affecting fertility.
Extra IVF laboratory techniques, such as continuous embryo monitoring, offered at added cost with uncertain overall benefit.
Planning intercourse around the fertile window, sometimes alongside ovulation-inducing medicines.
The number of actively moving sperm in a sample, often used to guide treatment choice.
The total number of sperm in the full ejaculate, combining concentration and volume.
The thin tube used to pass an embryo into the uterus, usually guided by abdominal ultrasound; sometimes tested beforehand.
Movement of gametes or embryos between registered ART clinics or banks must follow documented, lawful procedures.
A rearrangement where chromosome material is swapped or moved between chromosomes.
An internal ultrasound scan giving a detailed view of the uterus and ovaries.
A bundled clinic quote for a course of fertility treatment; check exactly what it includes.
A medicine given at a precise time in IVF or IUI to complete final egg maturation before retrieval or ovulation.
A fallopian tube that is closed off, stopping the egg and sperm from meeting normally.
A procedure to clear a blockage at the point where a fallopian tube meets the uterus.
Whether a fallopian tube is open and able to let an egg and sperm pass through.
Genital tuberculosis affecting the fallopian tubes, the most common site of female genital TB.
A pocket of infected pus involving both the tube and ovary, a serious complication of pelvic infection.
U
Infertility with no cause found after a full standard evaluation.
One fallopian tube is blocked while the other may still be open and functioning.
An IVF cycle that does not result in pregnancy or live birth; described as unsuccessful rather than 'failed'.
A radiological procedure that blocks blood supply to fibroids to shrink them.
A common non-cancerous growth of the uterine muscle wall, which may or may not affect fertility depending on location.
A band of tissue dividing the uterine cavity, present from birth, which can increase miscarriage risk.
V
Common vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis, and their link to fertility.
The loss of one embryo or fetus in an early multiple pregnancy, while the other continues to develop.
Enlarged veins in the scrotum that can sometimes affect sperm production or quality.
A blood clot in a vein, an uncommon but serious risk that can be increased by fertility treatment and pregnancy.
An early ultrasound, usually six to eight weeks, that checks whether a pregnancy is developing inside the uterus with a heartbeat.
How thick or sticky liquefied semen is, which can affect sperm movement and testing.
A vitamin needed for nerve and blood health; deficiency is common in vegetarian diets and can affect fertility work-up.
A vitamin linked to bone and general health; deficiency is common in India and being studied in fertility.
An ultra-rapid freezing method that turns eggs or embryos into a glass-like solid state to protect them.