Assisted hatching is the use of a micromanipulation technique to help an embryo break through the protective shell of the egg (the zona pellucida) and successfully attach to the wall of the uterus. In some women, the zona pellucida of the egg is too hard or tough for the embryo to emerge from the shell. Micromanipulation (using chemical or laser-assisted methods) is used to thin or perforate the zona pellucida

Sometimes referred to as superovulation, Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation (COH) is a treatment that uses drugs to stimulate development of multiple ovarian follicles to obtain multiple eggs. This treatment is used for women who do not ovulate or who ovulate infrequently, and to obtain eggs for in vitro fertilization (IVF).

a solid or liquid substance that covers cells in a culture dish, which contains nutrients to feed the cells as well as other growth factors that may be added to direct desired changes in the cells. Also known as Growth Medium.

An egg is the female gamete (cell bearing genetic information). Eggs are released from the ovaries into the fallopian tubes during the menstrual cycle. One cause of infertility in women is the failure to ovulate (release eggs) regularly.

Also called cryopreservation, this is a method used to preserve embryo for later implantation. It is also used to preserve gametes and zygotes.

In women suffering from endometriosis, tissue from the uterine lining (endometrium) grows outside of the uterus. When the superficial part of this tissue is shed during a menstrual cycle, blood and tissue collect in the abdominal cavity. Endometriosis can be a cause of infertility.

Sperm mature and are stored in the epididymis, a highly convoluted tubule that is the central passageway from the testicles to the penis. Blockage or narrowing of the epididymis can be a cause of infertility.

These narrow ducts, on either side of the female pelvis, lead from the ovaries to the uterus. The sperm meets the egg in the fallopian tube, after which the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining.

Fertility is the ability to have a child. Both men and woman can have physical conditions that reduce or interfere with their fertility. (See infertility.)

A gamete is a specialized reproductive cell that carries half of the genetic information required to create an embryo. Sperm cells and egg cells are both gametes.

Infertility describes situations in which a man, a woman, or both, have physical problems that interfere with the conception of a child. Causes of infertility can range from low sperm count or damaged sperm to problems with ovulation or embryo viability in utero. (See also male factor infertility.)

Male factor infertility is the term used when a couple's lack of fertility is linked to a physical problem with the male partner. Male infertility can be caused by a variety of conditions including lack of sperm, low sperm count, poor sperm quality, and problems with sperm delivery, such as retrograde ejaculation (which causes sperm to flow into the male bladder). Thirty-five percent of infertility cases are attributed to male factor infertility, with about 25 percent of cases attributed to a combination of male and female factors.

The oocyte is an unfertilized egg cell.

The ovaries are female sex organs that release mature eggs and produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Located on either side of the pelvis, the ovaries are connected to the uterus by the fallopian tubes.

Ovulation induction fertility treatments use injections or pills to mimic the actions of the natural hormones that control the development of eggs. Ovulation induction can be used to control the timing of ovulation and to stimulate the production of multiple eggs, increasing the likelihood that a woman will become pregnant.

Reproductive Endocrinology is a sub-specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology that is focused on reproductive medicine and infertility.

See Sperm Testing

Sperm testing, also called semen analysis, measures the quantity and the quality of a man's sperm, looking for abnormal sperm, problems with motility, and presence of infection. Sperm testing includes a sperm count, expressed as the number of sperm per milliliter of semen. (See also Male Factor Infertility.)

Two testicles (glands) in the male reproductive system produce sperm and hormones, including testosterone. Physical problems with the testicles can cause infertility.

A varicocele is an enlarged (varicose) vein in the scrotum. When blood pools in the dilated vein, the temperature surrounding the testicles increases, which may cause or contribute to infertility in some men.

The zona pellucida is the protective outer surface of the egg. The zona pellucida must be breached, physically or chemically, before a fertilized egg can successfully implant itself in the uterus.