Glossary of terms used on this site
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| Term |
Definition |
| In vitro fertilization (IVF) |
In vitro fertilization of an egg by sperm refers to fertilization that takes place in a laboratory instead of in the body. For this procedure, eggs are surgically removed from a woman's body, fertilized by sperm, and then allowed to divide until they become multi-celled blastocysts. At that stage, one or more of the embryos will be implanted surgically in the woman's uterus.
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| Infertility |
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.)
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| Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection |
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is an infertility treatment used when a male has weak sperm or low sperm count. A single sperm is injected into an egg in vitro to enable fertilization. The resulting embryo is then transplanted into the woman's uterus.
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