RMFC Fertility
Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Center Colorado Springs

Fertility Glossary

Glossary of Fertility Terms

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Fallopian Tubesearch for term
A pair of tubes that conduct the egg from the ovary to the uterus. Normal fertilization takes place within this structure.
Fertilizationsearch for term
The unification of sperm and egg to form a zygote (the earliest stage of human life). The zygote would then become an embryo, and then a fetus.
Fetussearch for term
A fertilized egg is called a zygote. Further cellular division and differentiation yields an embryo. Once organic differentiation occurs, i.e., the embryo acquires human-like features, it is called a fetus.
Fibroid Tumorssearch for term
Benign tumors of the muscle of the uterus. Fibroids develop in one of every four women sometime during their lifetime. If present inside the uterine cavity, they can interfere with implantation. Fibroids can also cause problems if they become large in size and impinge or put pressure on the uterine lining. They are treated by surgical removal, either via Laparoscopy, Hysteroscopy, or a major abdominal surgery. Synonyms: Myoma
Fimbriasearch for term
Finger-like outer ends of the Fallopian tubes that sweep the egg into the fallopian tube.
Fimbrioplastysearch for term
Surgical procedure to open up the constricted end of a fallopian tube.
Folic Acidsearch for term
Vitamin started preconceptionally by women of reproductive age, which reduce the fetuses' risk of neural tube defects by 80%.
Folliclesearch for term
The fluid-filled sac on the ovary that has nurtured the egg and from which the egg is released during ovulation, or aspiration.
Follicle Stimulating Hormonesearch for term
A hormone produced and released from the pituitary gland that stimulates the ovary to ripen a follicle for ovulation. This hormone also stimulates sperm production in the male. Synonyms: FSH
Follicular Phasesearch for term
The first half of the menstrual cycle when ovarian follicle development takes place, pre-ovulatory.
Frozen Embryo Transfersearch for term
A procedure where frozen embryos are thawed and then placed into the uterus Synonyms: FET