Category: Mini Wiki
Simple explanations of IVF and fertility terms, written in plain language.
This section is not a full medical guide.
It is here to help confusing words make sense, one concept at a time.
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What is Follicle
What it means A follicle is a small fluid-filled sac inside the ovary that holds an egg. During stimulation, these follicles grow in size, and each one may contain a developing egg inside. When it’s used The term is often used during the stimulation phase, especially during ultrasound scans. Doctors track the number and size
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What is Fresh Transfer
What it means A fresh transfer is when an embryo is placed into the uterus in the same cycle it was created, without being frozen first. This means the transfer happens shortly after egg retrieval and fertilisation, usually within a few days. When it’s used It’s used right after the embryo develops, often at the
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What is Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
What it means Frozen Embryo Transfer, or FET, is when an embryo that was previously frozen is thawed and then placed into the uterus. Instead of using a fresh embryo right after it is created, the embryo is stored and used later in a separate cycle. When it’s used It’s used when embryos are frozen
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What is Miscarriage
What it means A miscarriage is when a pregnancy starts but stops developing before it can continue further. It usually happens after implantation, and sometimes even after early signs like rising beta hCG or a heartbeat have been seen. When it’s used This term is used when a pregnancy ends during the early stages, often
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What is Chemical Pregnancy
What it means A chemical pregnancy is when a pregnancy starts, but stops very early, usually before anything can be seen on a scan. It often shows up as a positive beta hCG result at first, but the hormone level does not continue to rise as expected. When it’s used This term is used after
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What is Beta hCG
What it means Beta hCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin. It is a hormone that the body starts producing after implantation happens. In IVF, this hormone is measured through a blood test to check if a pregnancy has started. When it’s used It’s used after embryo transfer, usually about 9 to 14 days later. This
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What is PGT
What it means PGT stands for Preimplantation Genetic Testing. It is a process used in IVF to check embryos for certain genetic or chromosome conditions before they are transferred into the uterus. This helps identify which embryos have a typical number of chromosomes and which may not. When it’s used It’s used after an embryo
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What is ICSI
What it means ICSI stands for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection. It is a method used in IVF where a single sperm is carefully injected directly into an egg to help fertilisation happen. Instead of letting the sperm find and enter the egg on its own, this process gives it a direct assist. When it’s used It’s
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What is Stimulation
What it means Stimulation is the phase in IVF where medication is used to help the ovaries produce multiple eggs instead of the single egg that usually develops each month. The goal is to give the body a stronger push so more eggs can be collected later during egg retrieval. When it’s used It happens