Our fertisuisse Wiki - terms quickly explained

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a proteohormone or glycoprotein that plays a role in sexual differentiation during embryonic development. Mutations in the AMH gene are responsible for sexual differentiation disorders. AMH is also produced by the ovaries. Determining AMH concentration is also important for evaluating ovarian reserve.

Anovulation refers to the absence of ovulation in the female cycle. In this case, we speak of an anovulatory cycle. Anovulatory cycles typically occur in PCOS, but also in hyperprolactinemia (excessive prolactin concentration in the blood). Disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis also frequently lead to anovulatory cycles. Chronic anovulation is a common cause of female infertility.

Medical advances have made it possible to cultivate embryos to the blastocyst stage. In most cases, an embryo reaches the blastocyst stage within 5-6 days. The pregnancy rate is higher when an embryo is transferred at the blastocyst stage.

Endometriosis is a common, benign, often painful chronic condition affecting women, in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside the uterine cavity (ectopic).

Like normal uterine lining, endometriosis tissue changes during the menstrual cycle and can cause tissue bleeding, scarring and pain. Endometriosis usually occurs in the lower abdomen or pelvic area, for example on the uterus or fallopian tubes. The ovaries are also often affected. When the uterine muscle is affected, it's called adenomyosis (adenomyosis uteri). It can spread to the vaginal wall and the bowel (large intestine). In rare cases, endometriosis has been described in the lungs, other internal organs and the brain. Endometriosis can be a cause of infertility in women. The causes of endometriosis have not yet been fully clarified, and there is no causal treatment or prevention available. Treatment of the disease includes surgical removal or destruction of the lesions and hormonal inhibition of the cycle to reduce the likelihood of endometriosis recurring. Complete removal of widespread, diffuse endometriosis in the uterine wall (adenomyosis) can only be achieved by removing the uterus.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection

ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is the most common method of artificial insemination. With its help, even men with severe fertility problems have the chance to fulfil their desire to have children.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition, infertility (Latin: infertilitas) is when pregnancy does not occur within one year despite regular unprotected sexual intercourse.

In vitro fertilisation

IVF (in vitro fertilisation) is a method of artificial insemination. In vitro fertilisation in a test tube was first successfully performed in 1978. However, simply mixing egg cells and sperm cells together is not enough. IVF treatment consists of carefully coordinated steps.

OAT syndrome (oligoasthenozoospermia syndrome) is a pathological change in sperm. It is characterised by too few (oligo), insufficiently motile (astheno) and an increased number of malformed (terato) sperm. It is often associated with male infertility.

Preimplantation genetic testing

Preimplantation genetic testing refers to the examination of an embryo before it is transferred to the uterine cavity. In PGS or, more correctly, PGT-A, the number and distribution of the embryo's chromosomes are examined. In PGT-M, specific altered genes that lead to serious hereditary diseases are sought.

Artificial insemination must be performed for preimplantation genetic testing. After the eggs have been retrieved and fertilised, the fertilised eggs are cultured in an incubator. When the embryo begins to hatch (usually after 5-6 days), some cells are removed from the embryo's shell (trophectoderm biopsy). The shell later becomes the placenta. These cells are genetically tested. In women over the age of 37, this can reduce the pregnancy rate per embryo transfer and the time to birth. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is also used for couples whose children are at risk of life-threatening hereditary diseases (monogenic diseases).

The time-lapse incubator can be used to assess the dynamics of embryo growth. Until the blastocyst stage (five to six days), each individual embryo is photographed every five minutes. This creates a time-lapse film that provides valuable information about embryonic development. Optimal development can increase the chances of pregnancy. Time-lapse incubation is also an important prerequisite for pre-implantation diagnostics. When the embryo begins to hatch, some cells are removed from the embryo's shell (trophectoderm biopsy). The shell later becomes the placenta. These cells are genetically tested. In women over the age of 37, this can reduce the pregnancy rate per embryo transfer and the time to birth. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is also used for couples whose children are at risk of life-threatening hereditary diseases (monogenic diseases).