AI
The placement of sperm or semen within the vagina or cervix of a woman by artificial means.

Azoospermia
Absence of living sperm in the semen.

Conceptus
The product of conception; includes all the structures that develop from the zygote, both embryonic and extraembryonic (ie placenta and embryonic membranes).

Conception
Traditionally, used to refer to “the act of becoming pregnant” without further particularity. In this Paper, we use this term to refer to the fertilization of an ovum by a sperm.

Cryopreservation
In this Paper, the freezing of reproductive tissue for storage purposes.

Ectopic Pregnancy
Implantation of the fertilized ovum outside the cavity of the uterus.

Embryo
Strictly, the term “embryo” refers to that period of development between the fourth and eighth weeks after fertilization has occurred. However, in the debate surrounding IVF it has been used to describe the fertilized ovum, and we u se the term interchangeably with “fertilized ovum”, “preimplantation embryo”, “zygote” and “conceptual.

Fallopian Tube
Uterine tube through which an ovum released from the ovary is conveyed to the uterus, and where conception normally takes place.

Fertilization
The process which begins when a single sperm passes through the outer coat of the ovum. This process is not instantaneous, but can take 22 to 30 hours to complete.

Fetus
The developing human life from the end of the eighth week after fertilization to the moment of birth.

Follicle
A small sac within the ovary which contains the developing ovum.

Gamete
An ovum or a sperm.

Gynaecology
A branch of medicine dealing with the female reproductive tract.

IUD
Intra uterine device; a metallic or plastic device introduced into the uterus to prevent conception.

In Vitro Fertilization
Human fertilization outside the body.

Obstetrics
A branch of medicine dealing with the care of women during and immediately after pregnancy.

Oligospermia
A low concentration of sperm in the semen.

Ovary
One of the paired reproductive glands in the female, containing the ova.

Ovum
The female sex cell produced in the ovary (plural, ova).

Pronucleus
The genetic material in the head of the sperm or of the ovum, after the ovum has been penetrated by the sperm (plural, pronuclei).

Semen
Fluid secretion containing sperm that is emitted during ejaculation.

Sperm
The male gamete(s) produced in the testicle. Strictly, spermatozoon (singular) and spermatozoa (plural).

Uterus
The womb, a hollow muscular organ in which the fertilized ovum may implant and develop into a fetus.

Zygote
The single cell resulting from fertilization of an ovum by a sperm.