Fertility dictionary — key fertility terms explained

This A–Z fertility dictionary explains the key biomedical, hormonal and traditional Chinese medicine terms used throughout my fertility pages, my books My Fertility Guide and My Pregnancy Guide, and in clinic consultations. Definitions are drawn from My Fertility Guide. For traditional Chinese medicine terminology that goes beyond the fertility context, see the TCM glossary.

Browse A–Z

A

Acrosome

an enzyme found in the head of a sperm that's used to break down the outer wall of an egg allowing a sperm to enter the egg.

Acupoints

specific points on the body where acupuncture pins or moxa are applied to elicit a healing response.

Acupuncture

the insertion of fine pins into acupuncture points along the channels of the body to promote good health and fertility.

Adenomyosis

a condition where the inner lining of the uterus breaks through the muscle wall of the uterus.

Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)

a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that influences the production of hormones by the adrenals.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs)

originating from sugar, AGEs affect implantation by making the uterus lining hostile.

Amenorrhoea

the absence of a menstrual period.

Androgens

are made up of testosterone, androstenedione and SHBG.

Anovulation

the absence of ovulation.

Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH)

a measure of egg reserve.

Antioxidants

a molecule that stops a chain reaction causing the creation of free radicals.

Antral follicle count (AFC)

a measure of preceding follicles (potential eggs).

Asherman's syndrome

uterine scarring that prevents the regrowth of the uterus lining.

Asthenospermia (asthenozoospermia)

reduced sperm motility.

Azoospermia

no sperm in the male semen.

B

Basal body temperature (BBT)

the measuring of your body temperature at the same time every morning to determine ovulation.

Blastocyst

a 5-6-day-old fertilised embryo. A blastocyst is different from a morula as it has formed into a hollow ball with an inner cavity.

Blood stasis

the impairment of normal blood flow.

Blood

the same in both Western and Chinese medicines.

Body mass index (BMI)

a mathematical equation (divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared) that tries to measure a person's body fat.

C

Chinese herbs

different types of plants mixed together to form a therapeutic decoction to heal the person.

Chinese medicine

a system of medicine that uses observations in Nature to maintain good health. It incorporates acupuncture, herbal medicine, moxibustion, cupping, gua sha and tui na to rectify health problems.

Chlamydia

a sexually transmitted disease that can cause infections in the pelvis (pelvic inflammatory disease), which may affect the fallopian tubes causing ectopic pregnancies, chronic pain and infertility.

Chocolate cysts

blood-filled cysts.

Clomid

also known as clomifene citrate, is a drug used to try to induce ovulation.

CMV

cytomegalovirus, a herpes virus, which can cause birth defects.

Corpus luteum

the formation of the collapsed follicle (egg) sac, which releases progesterone.

Corticotrophic-releasing hormone (CRH)

affects levels of the stress hormone cortisone.

Cretinism

mental and physical retardation due to hypothyroidism brought about by a lack of iodine in the pregnant mother.

Cyst

a sac-like pocket of tissue that contains fluid, air or other substances.

Cytokines

proteins produced by the immune system that affect the behaviour of immune cells, which can affect implantation and the development of the fertilised embryo.

D

D&C

dilatation and curettage to remove an embryo from the uterus.

Dampness

similar to fog and the wet nature of woods and forests.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

a naturally occurring steroid that can enhance egg quality.

Dermoid cyst

a small collection of bodily tissues, such as hair, teeth, blood, bone, fat, eyes, etc.

Dysmenorrhoea

pain during the menstrual bleed.

E

E2

oestradiol.

ELISA

`enzyme linked immunosorbent assay', which is used to test for antibodies in relation to certain infections, i.e. hepatitis C.

Embryo

a fertilised egg.

Endometriosis

when the lining of the uterus starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Endometrium/endometrial

the lining of the uterus (womb) wall.

Endomyometritis

an infection of the uterus.

Excessive cold

the same as being too cold in Nature, such as during winter, when things move slower.

Excessive heat

the same as being too hot in Nature, such as in the height of summer when it's too hot and we feel uncomfortable, restless and thirsty.

F

Fallopian tubes

the tubes that join the ovaries to the uterus.

Fibroids

non-cancerous tumours, made up of muscle and fibrous tissue that grow in or around the uterus in various sizes.

Five elements

the five phases of material change: fire, earth, metal, water and wood.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

released by the pituitary gland that stimulates the ovaries to produce follicles (eggs).

Follicle

the sac in which an egg grows before ovulation occurs.

Free radicals

an uncharged molecule in a cell.

G

Gametes

the male and female reproductive cells: sperm and egg.

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

released by the hypothalamus, which causes the release of FSH and LH from the pituitary gland.

Gonorrhoea

a sexually transmitted disease that can cause infections in the pelvis (pelvic inflammatory disease), which may affect the fallopian tubes causing ectopic pregnancies, chronic pain and infertility.

H

Hatching

enzymes released by the blastocyst erode a hole in the uterus wall to aid implantation.

HPT

home pregnancy test.

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)

released by the embedded embryo, which is used by pregnancy tests to detect pregnancy.

Hyfosy

an internal ultrasound scan using a contrast solution of sterile water and sterile inert gel.

Hyperprolactinaemia

higher than normal levels of prolactin.

Hypothalamus

the area in the brain that releases GnRH.

Hysterosalpingography

an X-ray examination of a woman's uterus and fallopian tubes that uses a special form of X-ray called fluoroscopy with a contrast material.

Hysteroscopy

the examination of the uterus using a small telescope.

I

Immune testing

the testing of cytokines and NK cells to determine if a woman has a hyperactive immune response, which can prevent an embryo implanting into the uterus wall.

Infertility

the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.

Inhibin

the hormone released by a mature egg that stops the release of FSH.

IPI

inherited premature infertility.

J

Jing

also known as `essence'; a more concentrated form of yin that is housed in the kidneys. In men it is his semen and in women her eggs.

L

Laparoscopy

the examination of the pelvis using a small telescope.

Laparotomy

a large incision made through the abdominal wall to gain access into the abdominal cavity.

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF)

essential for implantation and produced by IL-4 cytokine. Acupuncture increases its levels.

Leydig cells

found in male testis and produce testosterone.

Lipids

organic compounds made up of fats and oils.

Liver qi stagnation

the stagnation of energy in the liver organ.

Luteinised unruptured follicle syndrome

when the egg is not released by the follicle sac following a surge of LH.

Luteinising hormone (LH)

released by the pituitary gland and triggers ovulation.

M

Menorrhagia

a heavy bleed at the start of the menstrual cycle.

Mittelschmerz

ovulation pain with bleeding.

Morula

a 3-4-day-old fertilised embryo with an identical number of cells.

Moxa

also called moxibustion, is the use of heat therapy on specific acupoints.

N

Nanogram (ng)

a unit of substance equal to one billionth of a gram.

NK cells

natural killer cells that form part of the immune system.

O

Oedema

fluid retention in areas of the body.

Oestradiol

the most abundant and dominant hormone from the group of oestrogens.

Oestrogens

the group of hormones secreted by the developing follicle.

Oligomenorrhoea

a very irregular menstrual cycle that occurs every 35 days to six months.

Oligospermia (oligozoospermia)

reduced sperm concentration.

Oocyte

an egg that hasn't been fertilised.

Ovaries

the female reproductive organs containing follicles.

Ovulation

the release of the egg from the follicle sac.

P

P4

progesterone.

Phytoestrogens

naturally-occurring oestrogens found in plants.

Picomole (pmol)

a unit of substance equal to one trillionth (10-12) of a mole.

Pituitary gland

the gland that secretes FSH, LH, prolactin and oxytocin.

Placenta

an organ that connects the developing foetus to the wall of the uterus.

Polycystic ovaries (PCO)

multiple cysts on the ovary without higher levels of testosterone or LH as seen in PCOS.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

multiple cysts on the ovary with higher than normal levels of LH and testosterone.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

a condition when a woman feels tension, irritability, aggression, depression and a loss of control before her menstrual cycle starts. Also known as premenstrual tension (PMT).

Progesterone

the steroid hormone released by the corpus luteum, which maintains the uterus lining.

Progestins

a group of steroid hormones produced by the corpus luteum. The main progestin is progesterone.

Prolactin

stimulates breast development and lactation.

Q

Qi

energy. Qi comes from food, sleep, tonics and qi gong.

R

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)

a by-product of oxygen metabolism.

S

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)

a carrier protein that binds to testosterone making it inactive.

Sperm

the male gamete.

T

Teratospermia (teratozoospermia)

reduced sperm morphology.

Testosterone

the main male androgen hormone.

TH1

inhibit pregnancy when levels are greater than TH2.

TH2

protect pregnancy when levels are greater than TH1.

Total antioxidant capacity (TAC)

used to measure the level of oxidative stress in semen.

Toxoplasmosis

a parasite that can cause infertility.

TRH

thyrotrophin-releasing hormone.

TSH

thyroid stimulating hormone.

Tubal occlusion

blocked fallopian tubes.

Tubal patency

open fallopian tubes.

U

Uterine lining

the lining of the uterus (womb).

V

Varicoceles

enlarged varicose veins that occur in areas such as the male scrotum, which can cause male infertility.

W

Waist-hip ratio

a more accurate measure of body fat than BMI: divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement.

Y

Yang

a type of energy that relates to male, the sun, active, midday, hot, summer, sperm, etc.

Yin

a type of energy that relates to female, the moon, passive, midnight, cold, winter, egg, etc.

Z

Zika virus

causes congenital birth defects.

Zona pellucida

the outer layer of an embryo.

Zygote

a newly fertilised egg.

For TCM terminology beyond fertility (qi, yin/yang, the Five Elements, meridians and more), see the TCM glossary.

My Fertility Guide

My Fertility Guide by Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto is a comprehensive, evidence-based guide to natural conception, based on over 350 peer-reviewed research studies and 25 years of clinical experience. It blends cutting-edge science with the proven theories of traditional Chinese medicine to give you a complete, practical and easy-to-understand resource for improving your fertility. The definitions on this page are drawn directly from the book’s fertility dictionary.

The book covers the menstrual cycle and how to identify your fertile window, how to improve egg quality and sperm quality, optimising your diet, lifestyle and environment for conception, evidence-based supplements for both men and women, the most common fertility conditions including PCOS, endometriosis and low AMH, and the role of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in improving fertility outcomes. Available in paperback, Kindle and ebook from Amazon, Waterstones and all major bookshops.