Glossary A–Z
Fertility & endometriosis terms explained
From AMH to zygote – the key terms from diagnostics and treatment, explained in plain language.
You will come across many technical terms in fertility medicine. In this glossary we explain the most important ones in simple words. It does not replace a personal consultation, but it helps you to better understand findings and treatment steps.
A
- Amenorrhoea
- The absence of menstruation in a woman of childbearing age.
- AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone)
- A hormone that provides information about a woman's ovarian reserve. A blood test to determine the AMH level is one of the most important examinations in fertility diagnostics. Learn more →
- Assisted Hatching
- A procedure in which the outer shell of the embryo is opened with a laser to make implantation in the uterine lining easier.
B
- Blastocyst
- An embryo at an advanced stage of development (approx. day 5–6 after fertilisation) that offers particularly good chances of success when transferred to the uterus.
C
- Cryopreservation
- The freezing of eggs, sperm or embryos for later use, usually by vitrification.
D
- Donor Insemination (DI)
- The introduction of prepared donor sperm into the uterus at the time of ovulation.
E
- Endometriosis
- A condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus – a common cause of infertility and pain.
F
- Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
- The transfer of a previously frozen (cryopreserved) embryo into the uterus. Learn more →
I
- ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection)
- A further development of IVF in which a single sperm is injected directly into the egg – often used in cases of male infertility.
- Insemination (IUI)
- Prepared sperm (from the partner or a donor) is placed directly into the uterus.
- IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation)
- Fertilisation of the egg outside the body ("in a test tube") before the resulting embryo is transferred to the uterus.
O
- Ovarian Stimulation (Hormone Stimulation)
- The administration of hormones to stimulate the ovaries to mature several eggs.
P
- PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
- A hormonal disorder often associated with an irregular cycle and infertility.
S
- Semen Analysis (Spermiogram)
- The examination of the ejaculate to assess sperm count, motility and shape – the most important first diagnostic step for the man. Learn more →
- Social Freezing
- Freezing eggs for non-medical (elective) reasons in order to preserve one's own fertility for later.
V
- Vitrification
- An ultra-fast freezing method that prevents the formation of damaging ice crystals in the cell – the standard method for cryopreserving eggs.
Z
- Zygote
- The fertilised egg at its earliest stage of development, immediately after the fusion of egg and sperm cell.