Glossary Terms

Ovarian Reserve: is a term that is used to determine the capacity of the ovary to provide eggs that are capable of fertilization resulting in a healthy and successful pregnancy. While there is no known method for assessing the ovarian reserve of individual women, indirect determination of ovarian reserve is important in the treatment of infertility.

Ovulation: The phase of the female monthly cycle when a developed egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube for possible fertilization.

Oxytocin:  is a mammalian hormone that acts primarily as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Also known as alpha-hypophamine (α–hypophamine).

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): is the most common reproductive disorder in women and is often associated with infertility.  The main aspects of this disease include anovulation and irregular menstrual cycles, elevated male hormones, acne, hirsutism, insulin resistance and obesity.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): is a term used to describe any infection in the lower female reproductive tract that spreads to the upper female reproductive tract. The lower female genital tract consists of the vagina and the cervix. The upper female genital tract consists of the body of the uterus, the fallopian or uterine tubes,

Phototherapy: consists of exposure to daylight or to specific wavelengths of light using lasers, light-emitting diodes, fluorescent lamps, dichroic lamps or very bright, full-spectrum light, usually controlled with various devices. The light is administered for a prescribed amount of time and, in some cases, at a specific time of day.