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Glossary - Assisted Human Reproduction
The following are explanations of terms used on this website. These explanations are meant to be guidelines only and are not formal definitions.
- Assisted human reproduction (AHR)
- Activities used to aid human reproduction. Examples of AHR include taking prescription fertility drugs, in vitro fertilization, and donor insemination.
This term is often used in place of assisted reproductive technology (ART) or medically-assisted reproduction. ART, however, usually means only those AHR procedures that require handling of eggs, sperm or embryos in a specialized lab.
- Chimera
- An embryo that contains additional cells from (a) any non-human life form or (b) more than one embryo, fetus or human being.
- Cloning
- The intentional creation of one or more genetically identical embryos for reproductive or therapeutic purposes.
- Cryopreservation
- Freezing of eggs, sperm or embryos for storage. The reproductive materials can later be thawed and used or donated.
- Donor
- A man or woman who donates their sperm, eggs, or embryos to another person or couple for reproductive purposes. The term "donor" is also used to refer to someone who donates for research purposes their sperm, eggs or excess in vitro embryos created for reproductive purposes.
- Donor insemination
- The process of inseminating a woman with sperm from a third-party donor (someone other than the woman's husband or partner) in order for her to get pregnant. The donor may be anonymous or someone the woman knows.
- Egg
- Female reproductive or germ cell. See also ovum.
- Egg donation
- When a woman's eggs are retrieved and donated to a third party for reproductive or research use. The Assisted Human Reproduction Act allows for altruistic (no payment) egg donation only, no matter how the eggs will be used.
- Embryo
- A human organism during the first 8 weeks (56 days) of its development after fertilization or creation, not including any interruptions such as cryopreservation, and includes (for purpose of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act) any cell derived from such an organism that is used for the purpose of creating a human being. (See also fetus.)
- Fertilization
- Combination of an egg and a sperm to produce an embryo.
- Fetus
- In a human organism, the stage of development after an embryo which lasts from 57 days after fertilization or creation, excluding any time during which its development is suspended, and ending at birth. (See also embryo)
- Gamete
- The mature male or female reproductive cell (sperm or egg). Also referred to as human reproductive material (HRM) or germ cells.
- Gene therapy
- The process of changing or putting new genetic material into a person. In somatic gene therapy, this is done to treat or control a genetic disease, and the genetic changes do not affect the germ-line cells and therefore are not passed on to children. Gene therapy resulting in genetic changes that could be passed on to children, for example gene therapy in embryos, is illegal under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act.
- Genetics
- The study of heredity and the ways in which inherited characteristics vary.
- Genome
- The complete DNA sequence of a particular cell.
- Germ-line cells
- The sequence of cells that develop into gametes (sperm or eggs).
- Human reproductive material (HRM)
- Sperm, eggs, or other human cell or human gene, and includes (for purpose of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act) a part of any of them.
- Hybrid
- An egg or embryo that contains genetic or cellular material from both a human and a non-human life form. Under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, this includes: (1) fertilizing a human egg with sperm from a non-human life form, (2) fertilizing an egg of a non-human life form with human sperm, (3) replacing the nucleus of a human egg with the nucleus of a cell of a non-human life form, (4) introducing the nucleus of a human cell into the egg of a non-human life form, and (5) making either a human egg or an egg of a non-human life form that has one copy of human DNA and one copy of DNA from a non-human life form.
- Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
- An IVF treatment that involves injecting a single sperm into an egg with a microscopic needle. This treatment is used, for example, when the male partner has few or poor quality sperm.
- Infertility
- Not being able to get pregnant despite having frequent, unprotected sex for at least a year -- or for at least six months if the woman is age 35 or older. Infertility may be due to a single cause in either the woman or her partner, or a combination of factors that may prevent a pregnancy from occurring or continuing.
- Informed consent
- Agreement given after information has been received and understood by a person; usually provided in writing and signed by the consenting person.
- Insemination
- Placement of sperm in a woman's reproductive tract (vagina, uterus (womb) or Fallopian tubes). This treatment is often combined with drugs that cause the ovaries to release eggs. The sperm can come from the woman's spouse or partner, or from a third-party donor.
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
- Procedure in which sperm are injected directly into a woman's uterus (womb) through the vagina.
- In vitro embryo
- An embryo that is created and developed outside a woman's body.
- In vitro fertilization (IVF)
- An assisted human reproduction technique in which fertilization happens outside a woman's body. IVF is a process where a woman's eggs are exposed directly to sperm in a laboratory dish so that the sperm are more likely to be able to fertilize the eggs.
- In vivo embryo
- An embryo that is within a woman's body.
- Multiple birth
- When two or more babies are born to the same woman at the same time.
- Multiple pregnancy
- A pregnancy in which more than one embryo or fetus develops in the womb at the same time.
- Oocyte
- An immature egg cell, found in the ovaries. An ovum is a mature oocyte, and is usually released during a woman's monthly ovulation cycle. Although the oocyte and the ovum are at different stages of development, the two terms are often used in place of one another.
- Ovaries
- A woman's reproductive organs that produce eggs and female hormones, like estrogen.
- Ovarian Tissue
- Female germ cells and other reproductive cells which make up the ovaries.
- Ovum
- The female sex or germ cell. Ova is the plural. Other terms are egg(s), oocyte(s).
- Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)
- Ways of testing in vitro embryos for specific genetic disorders (e.g. cystic fibrosis) before they are transplanted to a woman's uterus (womb).
- Psychosocial counselling
- A service provided by a professional counsellor to a person, family or group to decrease stress and improve well-being and coping skills. Counselling is often recommended in AHR because of the issues and stresses that go with infertility, assisted reproduction, and the use of donor reproductive material.
- Reproductive endocrinology
- A branch of medicine dealing with problems with reproduction.
- Sex selection
- Procedures that ensure and increase the chance that an embryo used in assisted human reproduction will be of a chosen sex. Under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, techniques that ensure and increase the chances of an embryo being of a specific sex or that identify the sex of an in vitro embryo are illegal except when they are used to prevent, diagnose or treat a sex-linked disorder or disease.
- Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)
- A type of cloning where the nucleus from a somatic (non-germ) cell is transferred into an egg from which the nucleus has been removed.
- Sperm
- Male reproductive or germ cell.
- Sperm donation
- A procedure in which a man donates his sperm to help a woman or couple to conceive a baby or for research use. The Assisted Human Reproduction Act allows for altruistic (no payment) sperm donation only, no matter how the sperm will be used.
- Stem cell
- A cell that can divide and develop into specialized cell types. Stem cells can come from embryonic, fetal or adult sources.
- Surrogacy
- An arrangement in which a woman carries an embryo or fetus, conceived through an assisted reproduction procedure, and surrenders the child at birth to another couple or person. Surrogate mothers are also called gestational carriers.
There are two types of surrogacy: genetic (the egg of the surrogate mother is used) and gestational (the egg of the surrogate mother is not used). Surrogacy may be altruistic (no payment) or commercial (for payment); commercial surrogacy is illegal under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act.
- Testes
- A man's reproductive organs that produce the male sex hormone testosterone and sperm.
- Testicular Tissue
- The combination of male germ cells and other reproductive cells that make up the testes.