fertility dictionary

1. Beta-wait:

 The beta wait is the common way of calling the period of time between the embryo transfer into the woman’s uterus, until the pregnancy test. This period lasts approximately two weeks.

The name beta-wait is due to the beta-hCG hormone, which informs us if pregnancy has occurred.

A feeling of uncertainty usually takes place during the beta-wait and can cause emotional stress in couples undergoing assisted human reproduction´s treatment. In addition, during those days some symptoms can be experienced, such as: breast soreness, pain in the ovaries or small bleedings, among others.

2. Cryopreservation

It is the process by which gametes (sperm and eggs) and embryos are frozen at a very low temperature (-196ºC). This process allows the conservation and future use of your biological material preserving the same quality that it had by the time it was frozen.

This is the procedure used for the Fertility preservation in women and men in assisted reproduction centers.

3. PGD (PGT-A, PGT-M, PGT-SR)

PGD, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, is the study performed in embryos to detect possible chromosomal and genetic alterations prior to its transfer to the uterus. Thanks to this procedure, only healthy embryos will be transferred.

There are different types of PGT (Preimplantation Genetic Test):

o PGT-A: Identifies aneuploidies: this test checks if there are more or less number of chromosomes in the embryos than the normal number.

For example: the Turner syndrome has a total or partial absence of the X chromosome and the Down syndrome occurs when instead of two chromosomes of pair 21, the embryo presents three pairs of it.

o PGT-M: Identifies monogenic diseases: it checks on inherited diseases that, after initial studies, it is known that the parents are carriers of.

o PGT-SR: Idnetifies structural chromosomal rearrangements due to breakage or abnormal union of segments. These alterations can lead to an abnormal expression of genes, resulting in embryos with abnormalities.

4. AMH (Anti-Müllerian hormone)

The value of the anti-Müllerian hormone helps us to predict how the ovaries of a woman will respond to assisted reproductive treatment. The level of this hormone in a woman´s body does not vary with the menstrual cycle; therefore, it can be checked at any time.

To know the level of this hormone, a simple blood test is carried out. It is also combined with a gynecological ultrasound that will allow us to count how many follicles the woman has on that cycle, and then determine the status of the woman’s ovarian reserve.

5. Prolactin

The prolactin is a hormone produced by the Hypophysis (pituitary gland), whose role is to prepare the woman´s during pregnancy to produce milk after childbirth.

This hormone is straightly related to pregnancy: when its level is very high in a woman´s fertile age, hyperprolactinemia occurs, and affects the ovulation process and therefore the probability of getting pregnant.