2006 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 has
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
Fertility Clinic Success Rate and Certification Act of 1992 (FCSRCA).
Law passed by the United States Congress in 1992 requiring all clinics
performing ART in the United States to annually report their success rate
data to CDC.
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.
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 makes 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
PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis). A technique combining the
recent significant advances in molecular genetics and assisted reproductive
technology. PGD allows physicians to identify various genetic diseases in
the embryo (fertilized egg with several divisions) prior to implantation,
that is, before the pregnancy is established. It is of special value for
those who are at risk of having children with serious genetic problems.
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.
Spontaneous abortion. See Miscarriage.
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 woman 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 Page last reviewed: 12/3/08
Page last modified: 12/3/08
Content source: Division
of Reproductive Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion
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