A – Andrology - the specialty that focuses on the male reproductive system – here at Fertility Fusion, we have an Assistant Practitioner in Andrology, Louise, who you can meet here.
B – Blood tests – women who have periods will have blood tests at the beginning of their cycle, these are routine tests often referred to as the day 2-4 bloods. In men, blood tests may be required if there are abnormalities found in the results of the semen analysis.
B- Blastocyst – this is the five-day old embryo that we transfer to the uterus in the majority of IVF and ICSI treatment cycles. These embryos survive freezing and thawing extremely well and can be stored for years.
C – Counselling – we understand that fertility testing and treatment can be physically and emotionally stressful, and we are proud to offer a specialised counselling service for people undergoing treatment with us. You can find out more about the service and meet our Specialist Fertility Counsellor, Andrea Hollinghurst here.
D – Dignity – we believe in providing you with a safe and comfortable fertility journey, and dignity plays a big part in this. Our team members pride themselves on respecting our patients every step of the way.
E – Embryo Transfer - the procedure is usually straightforward, with no fasting or anaesthetic required. Usually with a partially full bladder a speculum is inserted in the vagina, the cervix (neck of the womb) is then visualized, and a very fine tube inserted along the cervical canal into the uterus. Once in place a much finer tube is fed down the tube and the embryo(s) transferred.
F – Funding – we ensure that both our NHS and private services are of the highest quality. The eligibility is defined by your local ICB (Integrated Care Board). Private patients can access treatment slightly faster than those seeking treatment through the NHS To learn more about the funding process, our price list and the options available, you can find out more information here.
G – Gonadotrophin – injections using gonadotrophin stimulate the growth of follicles on the ovaries. These injections are self-administered and this form of treatment generally starts within the first two to four days of the cycle, typically lasting between seven to fourteen days, depending on the treatment.
G – Gamete – refers to the reproductive cells. The female gametes are the eggs or oocytes, and the male gametes are called sperm. Each cell carries only half the genetic material required to form a complete person.
H – Hormones - natural occurring chemicals produced by the endocrine glands in the body, for example, oestrogen is produced by the ovaries and testosterone is produced by the testes.
I – Intrauterine Insemination - in some cases, couples can improve their chance of conceiving by having a combination of ovulation induction; using either tablets or injections, combined with a timed insemination of prepared sperm directly into the uterus. This is more commonly known as stimulated intrauterine insemination (IUI). Find out more about IUI here.
J – Journey – we are all unique in both body and mind, which means our fertility journeys will all have unique paths, and that’s what our consultants, nurses and wider team are here to help you with. Further support can also be accessed through UK charity Fertility Network UK, who provide advice and guidance from people with lived-experience of fertility testing and treatment.
K – Knowledge – educating ourselves and each other about fertility is essential when it comes to understanding and maintaining our reproductive health. The patient resources page on our website offers more information on lifestyle, fertility testing, treatments and support.
L – Letrozole – this is an increasingly used medication to induce ovulation. It appears to have a lower incidence of side effects when compared with Clomiphene in terms of mood disturbance and the risk of multiple pregnancy.
L- Lifestyle – there are some aspects of the way we live that can improve our chances of achieving a pregnancy. Eating a healthy balanced diet and watching our weight. It is important to avoid smoking and reduce alcohol consumption.
M – Metformin - metformin is a drug that is sometimes used by patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who aren’t ovulating properly because of abnormal insulin levels in the body. However, it does not benefit all patients.
N – Non-motile sperm – there are always some sperm cells in the sample that are not moving. When the numbers are significant, this is called asthenozoospermia. It can be more difficult to identify live sperm if they are not moving,
O – Ovulation – refers to the release of an egg from the ovary is necessary for spontaneous pregnancy to occur. If this does not happen naturally, various medications can be used to stimulate the ovaries. Called ovulation induction, various medications are available, tablets such as Letrozole and Clomiphene, or as injections (gonadotrophins). These medications can be used if the cycles are irregular or infrequent, or if the progesterone levels are low.
P – Progesterone - is a female hormone produced by the ovaries during ovulation. It causes the endometrial lining of the uterus to get thicker, making it receptive for a fertilised egg. In a regular 28-day cycle, the day 21 progesterone result is used to determine if ovulation is occurring. Progesterone levels increase towards the end of the woman’s menstrual cycle, reaching a maximum level seven days before the start of the next period.
Q – Questions – we know you will have lots of questions to ask, whether that’s during your consultation or throughout the fertility journey you are on. Our website has a frequently asked questions section to help you with any questions you may have, but you can also contact the unit through our online form, or by calling us on 01257 256251 between 8.00am-4.00pm, Monday to Friday.
R – Reproductive health – refers to the condition of male and female reproductive systems throughout all the life stages. It includes family planning, sexual health and maternal health.
S – Semen sample - men will be asked to provide at least one sperm sample for analysis to find out if this is a factor contributing to a delay in conception. If abnormalities are found, further tests, including blood tests, may be required. You can find out more on our fertility testing for men page.
T – Tubal patency - if necessary, we will arrange a special scan test called hystero-salpingo contrast sonography (HyCoSy), which will check that the fallopian tubes are open (patent). Blocked or damaged tubes can prevent the eggs from travelling along the tubes and meeting the sperm preventing pregnancy from occurring.
U – Ultrasound – Ultrasound scanning forms the bedrock of pelvic assessment to identify conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine polyps, endometriotic cysts and fibroids – all of which can reduce the likelihood of a pregnancy occurring. It is also an essential aspect of monitoring during treatments.
V – Vasectomy - this is a surgical method of sterilisation for men. The tubes carrying the sperm from the testicles to the penis are cut and sealed to prevent sperm from entering the seminal fluid.
W – Wellbeing - supporting your physical and mental wellbeing is equally as important as looking after your physical wellbeing. The Fertility Network UK provide a health and wellbeing series on their website, including acupuncture, yoga, mindfulness and nutrition.
X – X Chromosome - the X chromosome is one of the two sex-determining chromosomes and is found in both males and females.
Y – Y Chromosome - the Y chromosome is one of two sex chromosomes. The Y chromosome is normally the sex-determining chromosome in many species. It’s presence normally determines the male sex.
Z – Zygote – is the fertilised egg cell that goes on to divide to form the embryo .
Definitions and information within this article have been provided from the nhs.uk website, the HFEA website and the Fertility Fusion website