Navigating fertility care often means learning new medical terms along the way.
This glossary provides clear, patient-friendly definitions of commonly used fertility terms to help you better understand IVF, egg freezing, and fertility treatment.
A
AFC (Antral Follicle Count): A transvaginal ultrasound measurement of the small follicles visible in the ovaries. AFC provides information about ovarian reserve and can help estimate how the ovaries may respond to stimulation.
AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone): A hormone produced by small follicles in the ovaries. AMH provides information about ovarian reserve and anticipated response to ovarian stimulation. It does not directly measure egg quality or predict whether someone will become pregnant naturally.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): Fertility treatments that involve handling eggs, sperm, or embryos outside the body. IVF is one of the most common forms of ART.
C
Chromosomal Abnormality: A difference in the number or structure of chromosomes. Some chromosomal abnormalities can affect embryo development, implantation, pregnancy, or miscarriage risk.
Cycle: One round or phase of fertility treatment. Depending on the treatment plan, an IVF cycle may include ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo development, and embryo transfer.
D
Donor Sperm: Sperm provided by a donor for use in fertility treatment. Donor sperm may be used in some family-building pathways. Open Fertility’s available services are more limited than those of a full-service fertility center, so patients should confirm whether their specific treatment pathway is available at Open.
E
Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation): A process in which eggs are retrieved, frozen, and stored for potential future use. Egg freezing preserves eggs at the age they are retrieved but does not guarantee a future pregnancy.
Egg Quality: A term commonly used to describe an egg’s reproductive potential, including the likelihood that it is chromosomally normal and capable of contributing to a healthy embryo. Egg quality generally declines with age.
Egg Quantity: The number of eggs remaining in the ovaries, often discussed in relation to ovarian reserve. Egg quantity generally decreases over time.
Egg Retrieval: An outpatient procedure in which eggs are collected from the ovaries after ovarian stimulation. At Open Fertility, egg retrievals are performed by Spring Fertility reproductive endocrinologists.
Embryo: An egg that has been fertilized and begun developing. In IVF, embryos develop in the laboratory before transfer or cryopreservation.
Embryo Freezing (Embryo Cryopreservation): The process of freezing embryos for potential future use.
Embryo Transfer: A procedure in which an embryo is placed into the uterus. At Open Fertility, embryo transfers are performed by Spring Fertility reproductive endocrinologists.
F
Fallopian Tubes: Tubes connecting the ovaries and uterus. In unassisted conception, fertilization typically occurs in a fallopian tube. IVF bypasses the fallopian tubes by fertilizing eggs in a laboratory.
Fertility: A broad term describing reproductive capacity and the ability to achieve pregnancy. Fertility can be influenced by age, reproductive anatomy, medical history, sperm factors, and other individual considerations.
Fertility Evaluation: An assessment that may include medical history, bloodwork, ultrasound, and other testing depending on the reason for evaluation. At Open Fertility, testing is performed as part of an IVF or egg-freezing treatment pathway rather than as a standalone fertility-testing service.
Fertilization: The process in which sperm fertilizes an egg. In IVF, fertilization takes place in the laboratory.
Follicle: A small fluid-filled sac in the ovary that may contain an immature egg. Follicles are monitored during ovarian stimulation using ultrasound and bloodwork.
Fresh Embryo Transfer: An embryo transfer performed during the same general treatment cycle in which the eggs were retrieved, rather than after the embryo has been cryopreserved for later use.
Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET): A treatment cycle in which a previously frozen embryo is thawed and transferred into the uterus.
FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone): A hormone involved in follicle development. FSH may be measured as part of a fertility evaluation and interpreted alongside age, AMH, AFC, and other clinical information.
G
Genetic Testing of Embryos (PGT): Testing performed on embryos created through IVF before transfer. Different forms of PGT evaluate different genetic or chromosomal questions. PGT is not part of every IVF treatment plan and does not test for every possible genetic condition.
I
Implantation: The process by which an embryo attaches to the lining of the uterus.
Infertility: A condition involving difficulty achieving pregnancy. Evaluation may be recommended based on age, how long someone has been trying to conceive, reproductive history, and other clinical factors.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): A fertility treatment in which eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. Resulting embryos may then be transferred into the uterus or cryopreserved for potential future use.
IUI (Intrauterine Insemination): A fertility treatment in which prepared sperm is placed directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation. Open Fertility does not offer IUI.
L
Low Sperm Count: A lower-than-expected concentration of sperm in a semen sample. Sperm count is interpreted alongside motility, morphology, and other clinical factors.
M
Medication: Fertility medications may be used to stimulate the ovaries, support follicle development, trigger final egg maturation, or support other stages of treatment depending on the clinical plan.
Menstrual Cycle: The hormonal cycle that prepares the reproductive system for potential pregnancy.
Miscarriage: Pregnancy loss before 20 weeks. Miscarriage can occur for many reasons, including chromosomal abnormalities.
Morphology (Sperm): The shape and structure of sperm, one of several characteristics evaluated during semen analysis.
Motility (Sperm): The ability of sperm to move, one of several characteristics evaluated during semen analysis.
O
Ovarian Reserve: A term describing the remaining quantity of eggs in the ovaries and anticipated response to ovarian stimulation. Tests such as AMH and AFC can provide information about ovarian reserve, but they do not directly measure egg quality or predict natural conception.
Ovarian Stimulation: The use of fertility medications to encourage multiple follicles to develop during an IVF or egg-freezing cycle.
Ovaries: Reproductive organs that contain eggs and produce hormones including estrogen and progesterone.
P
Preservation: Fertility preservation generally refers to freezing eggs, sperm, or embryos for potential future use. Open Fertility focuses on egg freezing for eligible patients.
S
Semen Analysis: A laboratory evaluation of sperm that may include sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and other characteristics.
Sperm: Male reproductive cells that can fertilize an egg.
Sperm-Factor Infertility: Fertility challenges related to sperm count, movement, shape, function, or other sperm-related factors.
Success Rates: Measures used to describe fertility treatment outcomes. Success rates vary based on age, diagnosis, treatment type, and other individual factors, and different clinics may report outcomes differently.
T
Trigger Shot: A medication given near the end of ovarian stimulation to help complete final egg maturation before egg retrieval. Timing is carefully coordinated by the care team.
Two-Week Wait: A common term for the period between embryo transfer and pregnancy testing. The exact timing of testing is determined by the care team.
U
Unexplained Infertility: A term used when a fertility evaluation does not identify a clear cause for difficulty achieving pregnancy.
Uterus: The reproductive organ where an embryo may implant and a pregnancy can develop.
V
Viable Pregnancy: A pregnancy that is developing in a way that suggests continued progression. Your clinical team uses ultrasound, hormone levels, and other information to assess pregnancy development.
Have a Question About Fertility Treatment?
This glossary is designed to make common fertility terminology easier to understand, but your care team can help explain how any of these terms relate to your individual treatment plan.
Open Fertility focuses on IVF and egg freezing for eligible patients with relatively straightforward medical histories.
Contact Information
Phone: (916) 907-0050
Email: [email protected]
This glossary provides general educational information and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Your care team can help explain which terms and treatment options are relevant to your situation.