2004 Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Report: Appendix B |
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Glossary of Terms Used in This Report
A B C D E
F G H I J K L
M
N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z
A
Adverse outcome.
A pregnancy that does not result in a live birth. The adverse outcomes
reported for ART procedures are miscarriages, induced abortions, and
stillbirths.
American Society for
Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Professional society whose
affiliate organization, the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology
(SART), is composed of clinics and
programs that provide ART.
ART (assisted
reproductive technology). All treatments or procedures that involve
surgically removing eggs from a woman’s ovaries and combining the eggs
with sperm to help a woman become pregnant. The types of ART are in vitro
fertilization (IVF), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), and zygote
intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT).
ART cycle. A
process in which (1) an ART procedure is carried out, (2) a woman has
undergone ovarian stimulation or monitoring with the intent of having an
ART procedure, or (3) frozen embryos have been thawed with the intent of
transferring them to a woman. A cycle begins when a woman begins taking
fertility drugs or having her ovaries monitored for follicle
production.
C
Canceled cycle.
An ART cycle in which ovarian stimulation was carried out but was stopped
before eggs were retrieved or, in the case of frozen embryo cycles, before
embryos were transferred. Cycles are canceled for many reasons: eggs may
not develop, the patient may become ill, or the patient may choose to stop
treatment.
Combination
cycle. A cycle
that uses more than one ART procedure. Combination cycles usually involve
IVF plus either GIFT or ZIFT.
Cryopreservation.
The practice of freezing extra embryos from a couple’s ART cycle for
potential future use.
D
Diminished
ovarian reserve.
This diagnosis means that the ability of the ovary to produce eggs is
reduced. Reasons include congenital, medical, or surgical causes or
advanced age.
Donor egg cycle.
An embryo is formed from the egg of one woman (the donor) and then
transferred to another woman who is unable to use her own eggs (the
recipient). The donor relinquishes all parental rights to any resulting
offspring.
Donor embryo. An embryo
that is donated by a couple who previously underwent ART treatment and
had extra embryos available.
E
Ectopic pregnancy.
A pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants in a location outside of
the uterus—usually in the fallopian tube, the ovary, or the abdominal
cavity. Ectopic pregnancy is a dangerous condition that must receive
prompt medical treatment.
Egg. A female
reproductive cell, also called an oocyte or ovum.
Egg retrieval (also
called oocyte retrieval). A procedure to collect the eggs contained in
the ovarian follicles.
Egg transfer (also
called oocyte transfer). The transfer of retrieved eggs into a woman’s
fallopian tubes through laparoscopy. This procedure is
used only in GIFT.
Embryo. An egg
that has been fertilized by a sperm and undergone one or more
divisions.
Embryo transfer.
Placement of embryos into a woman’s uterus through the cervix after IVF;
in ZIFT, the embryos are placed in a woman’s fallopian tube.
Endometriosis. A medical
condition that involves the presence of tissue similar to the uterine
lining in abnormal locations. This condition can affect both fertilization
of the egg and embryo implantation.
F
Fertilization.
The penetration of the egg by the sperm and the resulting combining of
genetic material that develops into an embryo.
Fetus. The
unborn offspring from the eighth week after conception to the moment of
birth.
Follicle. A
structure in the ovaries that contains a developing egg.
Fresh eggs, sperm,
or embryos. Eggs, sperm, or embryos that have not been frozen. Fresh
embryos, however, may have been conceived using either fresh or frozen
sperm.
Frozen embryo cycle.
An ART cycle in which frozen (cryopreserved) embryos are thawed and
transferred to the woman.
G
Gamete. A
reproductive cell, either a sperm or an egg.
GIFT (gamete
intrafallopian transfer). An ART procedure that involves removing eggs
from the woman’s ovary, combining them with sperm, and using a
laparoscope to place the unfertilized eggs and sperm into the woman’s
fallopian tube through small incisions in her abdomen.
Gestation. The
period of time from conception to birth.
Gestational carrier
(also called a gestational surrogate). A woman who gestates, or
carries, an embryo that was formed from the egg of another woman. The
gestational carrier usually has a contractual obligation to return the
infant to its intended parents.
Gestational sac. A
fluid-filled structure that develops within the uterus early in pregnancy.
In a normal pregnancy, a gestational sac contains a developing
fetus.
I
ICSI (intracytoplasmic
sperm injection). A procedure in which a single sperm is injected
directly into an egg; this procedure is most commonly used to overcome
male infertility problems.
Induced or
therapeutic abortion. A surgical or other medical procedure used to
end a pregnancy.
IUI (intrauterine
insemination). A medical procedure that involves placing sperm into a
woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization. IUI is not considered an ART
procedure because it does not involve the manipulation of eggs.
IVF (in vitro
fertilization). An ART procedure that involves removing eggs from a
woman’s ovaries and fertilizing them outside her body. The resulting
embryos are then transferred into the woman’s uterus through the
cervix.
L
Laparoscopy. A
surgical procedure in which a fiber optic instrument (a laparoscope) is
inserted through a small incision in the abdomen to view the inside of the
pelvis.
Live birth. The
delivery of one or more infants with any signs of life.
M
Male factor. Any
cause of infertility due to low sperm count or problems with sperm
function that make it difficult for a sperm to fertilize an egg under
normal conditions.
Miscarriage (also
called spontaneous abortion). A pregnancy ending in the spontaneous
loss of the embryo or fetus before 20 weeks of gestation.
Multifetal pregnancy
reduction. A procedure used to decrease the number of fetuses a woman
carries and improve the chances that the remaining fetuses will develop
into healthy infants. Multifetal reductions that occur naturally are
referred to as spontaneous reductions.
Multiple
factors, female only.
A diagnostic category used when more than one female cause of infertility
is diagnosed.
Multiple factors,
female and male. A diagnostic category used when one or more female
causes and male factor infertility are diagnosed.
Multiple-fetus
pregnancy. A pregnancy with two or more fetuses, determined by the
number of fetal hearts observed on an ultrasound performed early in
pregnancy (usually in the first trimester).
Multiple-infant
birth. A pregnancy that results in the birth of more than one infant.
N
NASS (National ART Surveillance System). Web-based data collection
system used by all ART clinics to report data for each ART procedure to CDC.
O
Oocyte. The
female reproductive cell, also called an egg.
Other
causes of infertility. These
include immunological problems, chromosomal abnormalities, cancer
chemotherapy, and serious illnesses.
Ovarian monitoring.
The use of ultrasound and/or blood or urine tests to monitor follicle
development and hormone production.
Ovarian stimulation. The use of drugs (oral or injected) to stimulate the ovaries to
develop follicles and eggs.
Ovulatory
dysfunction. A
diagnostic category used when a woman’s ovaries are not producing eggs
normally. It includes polycystic ovary syndrome and multiple ovarian
cysts.
P
Pregnancy
(clinical). A pregnancy documented by ultrasound that shows a
gestational sac in the uterus. For ART data collection purposes, pregnancy
is defined as a clinical pregnancy rather than a chemical pregnancy (i.e.,
a positive pregnancy test).
S
Singleton. A single live-born infant.
Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART). An affiliate of the American Society
for Reproductive Medicine composed of clinics and programs that provide
ART.
Sperm. The male
reproductive cell.
Stillbirth. The
birth of an infant after 20 or more weeks of gestation that shows no signs
of life.
Stimulated cycle.
An ART cycle in which a women receives oral or injected fertility drugs to
stimulate her ovaries to produce more follicles.
T
Thawed embryo cycle.
Same as frozen embryo cycle.
Tubal factor. A
diagnostic category used when the woman's fallopian tubes are blocked or
damaged, making it difficult for the egg to be fertilized or for an embryo
to travel to the uterus.
U
Ultrasound. A
technique used in ART for visualizing the follicles in the ovaries, the
gestational sac, or the fetus.
Unexplained cause of
infertility. A diagnostic category used when no cause of infertility
is found in either the woman or the man.
Unstimulated cycle.
An ART cycle in which the woman does not receive drugs to stimulate her
ovaries to produce more follicles. Instead, follicles develop
naturally.
Uterine factor.
A structural or functional disorder of the uterus that results in reduced
fertility.
Z
ZIFT (zygote
intrafallopian transfer). An ART procedure in which eggs are collected
from a woman’s ovary and fertilized outside her body. A laparoscope is
then used to place the resulting zygote (fertilized egg) into the woman’s
fallopian tube through a small incision in her abdomen.
Previous ART Reports
Implementation
of the Fertility Clinic Success Rate and Certification Act of 1992
Assisted
Reproductive Technology: Embryo Laboratory
Date last reviewed:
01/14/2007
Content source: Division
of Reproductive Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion
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