Did you know that approximately 15% of couples around the world have difficulty conceiving? If you have been trying to conceive for over 12 months, your doctor may refer you to a reproductive specialist. Here are 10 fertility terms you need to know to help you at your upcoming appointments:

  1. Reproductive Endocrinologist
    An infertility specialist and physician with highly specialized training in all forms of advanced reproductive techniques.
  2. Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
    This is an x-ray procedure used to determine if your fallopian tubes are open and the inside of the uterus is normal. The duration of this test lasts only a few moments, but may cause discomfort and cramping similar to a period when the liquid is injected into the reproductive system.
  3. Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
    When the woman is close to ovulating, a doctor will take the highest quality sperm from the sample and inject it into the uterus. This will help facilitate and increase the chance of fertilization.
  4. In vitro fertilization (IVF)
    IVF is a process of fertilization by manually combining an egg and a sperm in a laboratory dish to create an embryo. Once the embryo is created, it’s implanted into the uterus.
  5. Transvaginal ultrasound
    This is a test used to look at a woman’s uterus, ovaries and cervix. The ultrasound is done internally with an ultrasound transducer.
  6. Egg retrieval
    A few weeks before this procedure, the woman begins a course of medications to stimulate egg growth and development inside the ovaries. She is closely monitored through blood tests and ultrasounds. Monitor egg development prior to egg retrieval. While under anesthesia, the doctor inserts a small needle into the ovaries to extract the eggs. This procedure usually lasts 20-30 minutes.
  7. Cryopreservation
    Cryopreservation is the process of cooling and storing embryos or eggs at a temperature below the freezing point that provides high survivability when thawed. These can be used for future IVF cycles, if desired.
  8. Embryo / Egg transfer
    Approximately 5 days after the manual fertilization, the doctor conducts the egg transfer to the woman’s uterus.
  9. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
    HCG is a hormone that supports the normal development of an egg inside a woman’s ovary and stimulates the release of the egg during ovulation.
  10. Clomid
    Clomid is an oral medication that can be used to stimulate ovulation and is most commonly used in conjunction with IUI.

If you and your partner are struggling to conceive, call the experienced reproductive specialists at Center for Reproductive Medicine today at 612-863-5390 for an initial consultation.