A

• Abnormal Sperm Morphology (Teratozoospermia): Sperm with an irregular shape, which can affect their ability to fertilize an egg.
• Adenomyosis: Endometrial tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus.
• Agonist: A medication used in some IVF protocols to prevent premature ovulation.
• Andrologist: A specialist in male reproductive health.
• Anonymous Donor: A donor whose identity is unknown to the recipient.
• Anovulation: The absence of ovulation (egg release).
• Antagonist: A medication used in some IVF protocols to prevent premature ovulation.
• Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH): A hormone produced by the ovaries that is used to assess a woman's ovarian reserve (egg supply).
• Artificial Insemination (AI): A procedure where sperm is placed into a woman's reproductive tract by artificial means.
• Assisted Hatching: A technique used to help the embryo hatch out of its outer shell (zona pellucida) and implant in the uterus.
• Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): A broad term encompassing all fertility treatments that involve handling eggs and/or sperm outside the body. This includes IVF, IUI, GIFT, ZIFT, and others.
• Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues, sometimes affecting fertility (e.g., antiphospholipid syndrome).
• Azoospermia: The absence of sperm in the semen.

B

• Blastocyst: An embryo that has developed for five to six days after fertilization and is ready for implantation.

C

• Cervical Mucus Problems: Issues with the cervical mucus that can prevent sperm from reaching the egg.
• Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid): A fertility medication used to stimulate ovulation.
• Compensation: Donors are typically compensated for their time, effort, and any expenses related to the egg donation process. Regulations regarding compensation vary.

D

• Diabetes: Can affect both male and female fertility.
• Directed Donation: Sperm donation to a specific, known recipient.
• Donor: The woman who provides her eggs, or the man who provides his sperm.
• Donor Eggs: Eggs that are donated by another woman for use in IVF.
• Donor Insemination (DI): Using sperm from a donor (not the partner) for insemination.

E

• Egg Donation: A process where a woman (donor) provides her eggs to another woman (recipient) to help the recipient conceive a child.
• Egg Retrieval: A procedure in which eggs are collected from the ovaries using a needle guided by ultrasound.
• Embryo: A fertilized egg in the early stages of development.
• Embryo Transfer: A procedure in which embryos created from the donated eggs are placed into the recipient's uterus.
• Endocrinologist: A doctor specializing in hormone disorders.
• Endometrial Preparation: Preparing the recipient's uterine lining with medication (often estrogen and progesterone) to make it receptive to embryo implantation.
• Endometriosis: A condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it, causing pain and potentially affecting fertility.
• Erectile Dysfunction (ED) / Impotence: Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection.

F

• Fallopian Tube Blockage: Blockage in one or both fallopian tubes, preventing the egg and sperm from meeting. Causes include infection (like Pelvic Inflammatory Disease), endometriosis, or prior surgery.
• Fertility: The ability to conceive children.
• Fertility Clinic/Center: A medical facility specializing in fertility treatments, including egg and sperm donation.
• Fertility Drugs: Medications used to stimulate ovulation or prepare the uterine lining for embryo implantation.
• Fertility Medications: Drugs to stimulate ovulation or improve sperm production.
• Fertility Specialist/Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE): A doctor specializing in infertility and reproductive health.
• Fertilization: The process by which a sperm fertilizes an egg.
• Follicle: A fluid-filled sac in the ovary that contains an egg.
• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): A hormone that stimulates the growth of follicles in the ovaries.
• Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET): A procedure in which frozen embryos from a previous IVF cycle are thawed and transferred to the uterus.

G

• Gametes: Reproductive cells: sperm (male) and eggs (female).
• Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT): Eggs and sperm are mixed and immediately placed into the fallopian tubes, allowing fertilization to occur naturally within the body. Less common now.
• Genetic Disorders: Genetic conditions that can affect fertility (e.g., Klinefelter syndrome, Turner syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis).
• Gestational Carrier/Surrogate: A woman who carries a pregnancy for another woman (the intended mother). This is different from egg donation, as the gestational carrier is not genetically related to the child.
• Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH): A hormone that stimulates the release of FSH and LH to stimulate the ovaries.
• Gonads: The organs that produce gametes: testes (male) and ovaries (female).
• Gynaecologist: A doctor specializing in the female reproductive system.

H

• Hormonal Imbalance: Irregular levels of reproductive hormones.
• Hormone Testing: Blood tests to measure levels of reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone).
• Hormone Therapy: The use of hormones to stimulate the ovaries and prepare the uterine lining for embryo implantation.
• Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): A hormone that is produced by the developing embryo and is used to trigger ovulation and to support the early stages of pregnancy.
• Hyperstimulation: A condition in which the ovaries become enlarged and painful due to fertility medications.
• Hypospadias: A birth defect where the opening of the urethra is on the underside of the penis.
• Hysterosalpingogram (HSG): An X-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes to check for blockages.
• Hysteroscopy: A procedure to examine the inside of the uterus.

I

• Implantation: The process by which an embryo attaches to the lining of the uterus.
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): A fertility treatment in which eggs are retrieved from the woman's ovaries and fertilised with the recipient's partner sperm (or donor sperm) in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are then transferred to the uterus.
• Infertility: The inability to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse (or 6 months if the woman is over 35).
• Informed Consent: The donor and recipient must give their informed consent to the procedure, understanding the risks, benefits, and legal implications.
• Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): A single sperm is injected directly into an egg, often used in cases of male factor infertility.  
• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): A procedure in which sperm is placed directly into the woman's uterus.

K

• Known/Identified Donor: A donor whose identity is known to the recipient (e.g., a friend or family member).

L

• Laparoscopy: A minimally invasive surgical procedure to visualize the pelvic organs.
• Legal Agreement/Contract: A legal document outlining the rights and responsibilities of the donor and recipient (especially important in known donations).
• Lifestyle Factors: Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and drug use can all negatively affect fertility.
• Low Ovarian Reserve (Diminished Ovarian Reserve): A diminished number and/or quality of eggs in the ovaries.
• Low Sperm Count (Oligospermia): A lower-than-normal number of sperm in the semen.
• Low Sperm Motility (Asthenozoospermia): Sperm that do not swim effectively.
• Luteinizing Hormone (LH): A hormone that triggers ovulation.

M

• Morphology: The shape and structure of sperm.
• Motility: The ability of sperm to swim.

O

• Obesity: Can negatively impact fertility in both men and women.
• Oligospermia: A low sperm count.
• Oocyte: Another term for an egg.
• Open Donation: A type of known donation where the donor and recipient agree to have contact at some point in the future, typically when the child reaches a certain age.
• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): A potentially serious complication of fertility medications that can cause the ovaries to become enlarged and painful.
• Ovarian Reserve: The number and quality of eggs a woman has in her ovaries.
• Ovarian Stimulation: The use of fertility medications to stimulate the donor's ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
• Ovulation: The release of an egg from the ovary.
• Ovulation Tracking: Methods to determine when ovulation occurs (basal body temperature, ovulation predictor kits, ultrasound).

P

• Parental Rights: Laws regarding parental rights and responsibilities vary by jurisdiction. In most cases, sperm donors are not considered the legal parents of any children born from their donated sperm.
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): An infection of the female reproductive organs that can cause infertility.
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A hormonal disorder causing irregular periods, ovarian cysts, and other symptoms, often affecting fertility.
• Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD): A technique used to test embryos for specific inherited genetic abnormalities before they are transferred to the uterus.
• Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS): A technique used to screen embryos for chromosomal abnormalities (like Down Syndrome) before they are transferred to the uterus.
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT): Genetic testing of embryos created through IVF before they are transferred to the uterus.
• Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) / Premature Menopause: Early loss of ovarian function, leading to decreased egg supply and infertility.
• Progesterone: A hormone that is produced by the ovaries and is important for maintaining a pregnancy.

Q

• Quarantine: Freezing and storing sperm for a period of time (typically six months) and then retesting the donor for infectious diseases before the sperm is used. This helps to ensure the sperm is safe.

R

• Recipient: The individual or couple who receives the donated sperm.
• Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL): Experiencing multiple miscarriages.
• Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE): A doctor specializing in infertility and reproductive health.
• Reproductive System: The organs and structures involved in reproduction (male and female).
• Retrograde Ejaculation: Semen entering the bladder instead of being expelled from the penis during ejaculation.

S

• Screening: Medical and psychological evaluations performed on both the donor and recipient. This may include blood tests for infectious diseases, genetic testing, and psychological assessments.
• Semen: The fluid containing sperm.
• Semen Analysis: A test to evaluate sperm count, motility, and morphology.
• Semi-Open Donation: A type of known donation with limited contact facilitated through the clinic. May involve sharing of non-identifying information.
• Sperm: The male reproductive cells.
• Sperm Analysis: Testing the sperm for count, motility, morphology, and other factors to determine its suitability for donation.
• Sperm Collection: The process by which the donor provides a semen sample.
• Sperm Count: The number of sperm cells in a given volume of semen.
• Sperm Cryopreservation/Freezing: Freezing and storing sperm for later use.
• Sperm Donation: A process where a man (donor) provides his sperm to another individual or couple (recipient) to help them conceive a child.
• Spermatozoa: Mature sperm cells.
• Stimulation: The use of fertility medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
• Subfertility: A reduced level of fertility. Conception is still possible, but it may take longer.
• Surgery: Surgical procedures to correct structural problems or remove growths that may be affecting fertility.
• Synchronization: Coordinating the donor's and recipient's cycles so that the recipient's uterine lining is prepared to receive the embryos at the optimal time.

T

• Testicular Biopsy: A procedure to obtain a sample of testicular tissue for examination.
• Testosterone: The primary male sex hormone.
• Thawing: The process of warming frozen sperm for use in fertility treatments.
• Thyroid Disorders: Thyroid problems can sometimes impact fertility.

U

• Ultrasound: An imaging technique of the reproductive organs, used to visualize the ovaries, uterus, and developing follicles.
• Urologist: A doctor specializing in the male reproductive system.
• Uterine Fibroids (Leiomyomas): Noncancerous growths in the uterus that can sometimes interfere with fertility.
• Uterine Lining (Endometrium): The inner lining of the uterus where the embryo implants.

V

• Varicocele: Enlarged veins in the scrotum that can affect sperm production and quality.

Z

• Zona Pellucida: The outer shell of the egg.
• Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT): Eggs are fertilized in a lab (like IVF), and the resulting zygotes (fertilized eggs) are then transferred to the fallopian tubes. Less common now.