Trying to conceive can come with a whole new language — and at first, it might feel like everyone else already knows it. When I first started exploring at-home insemination and fertility treatments, I kept running into terms like AMH, OPK, and IUI — and felt like I needed a translator just to read a forum post or understand my GP.

That’s why we created this glossary: to help gently explain the language of fertility, one clear word at a time. Whether you’re just beginning your TTC journey, starting your first insemination cycle, or navigating IVF, understanding the terms is one way to feel more empowered, less overwhelmed, and more in control.

Let’s take this one step at a time — no more late-night Googling. Just warm, simple, science-backed explanations, in Maia Baby’s tone of voice.

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A

• • Artificial Insemination (AI): Helping sperm reach the egg without sex — often at home or in a clinic.

 

• • Amenorrhea: When periods stop for 3+ months in someone who previously had them.

 

• • AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone): A hormone that helps estimate your egg reserve.

 

• • Androgen: A reproductive hormone found in all genders.

 

• • Anovulation: A cycle where no egg is released.

 

• • Artificial Cervical Insemination (ACI): Sperm placed near the cervix to aid fertilisation.

 

• • Anonymous Donor: A sperm donor whose identity stays private.

 

• • Acuity Tracking: Monitoring cycle signs and test results to spot patterns.

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B

• • Basal Body Temperature (BBT): Your resting temp — tracked daily to spot ovulation.

 

• • Beta hCG: A blood test that confirms or monitors pregnancy hormone levels.

 

• • Bilateral Tubal Blockage: Both fallopian tubes are blocked, preventing natural conception.

 

• • Birth Order: Legal document confirming parenthood after donor conception.

 

• • BFP/BFN: TTC slang for "Big Fat Positive/Negative" pregnancy tests.

 

• • Blastocyst: A 5–6 day old embryo ready to implant.

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C

• • Cervical Mucus: Fertile fluid from your cervix that changes during your cycle.

 

• • Cervical Position: The position and feel of your cervix — changes during fertile windows.

 

• • Clomid: A fertility med that helps trigger ovulation.

 

• • Conception: When sperm meets egg.

 

• • Conception Cup: A soft cup that keeps sperm near the cervix.

 

• • Chemical Pregnancy: An early pregnancy loss, shortly after implantation.

 

• • Cryopreservation: Freezing sperm, eggs, or embryos for future use.

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D

• • Donor Agreement: A legal document between donor and recipient.

 

• • Donor Registry: A database that stores donor profiles and genetics.

 

• • Donor Sperm: Sperm provided by a donor.

 

• • Due Date: Your estimated baby arrival date (usually 40 weeks from your last period).

 

• • DHEA: A hormone supplement sometimes used to support egg quality.

 

• • Double Insemination: Two inseminations close together in one cycle.

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E

• • Endometrium: The lining of the uterus — thickens for possible implantation.

 

• • Estrogen: A hormone that supports ovulation and the cycle.

 

• • Elevated Position: Lying with hips up after insemination — may help sperm stay near the cervix.

 

• • Egg Reserve: The number of eggs remaining in your ovaries.

 

• • Egg Retrieval: Collecting eggs from ovaries, usually for IVF.

 

• • Egg Sharing: Donating eggs to another person, often part of shared-cycle IVF.

 

• • Embryo: A fertilised egg that has started dividing.

 

• • Embryo Transfer: Placing the embryo into the uterus.

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F

• • Fallopian Tubes: Connect ovaries to uterus — where fertilisation typically occurs.

 

• • Fertility Awareness Method (FAM): Tracking cycle signs to identify fertile days.

 

• • Fertility Window: The days when conception is most likely — around ovulation.

 

• • Follicle: A sac in your ovary containing a developing egg.

 

• • FSH: A hormone that helps eggs mature.

 

• • Fresh Sperm: Sperm used soon after collection (not frozen).

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G

• • Gametes: Reproductive cells — sperm or egg.

 

• • Gestation: The length of a pregnancy (typically 40 weeks).

 

• • Genetic Screening: Testing sperm or embryos for hereditary conditions.

 

• • GnRH: A hormone that triggers ovulation.

 

• • Gynaecologist: A reproductive health doctor.

 

• • Gonal-F: A medication that stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs.

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H

• • hCG: The hormone detected by pregnancy tests.

 

• • Home Insemination: Using donor sperm and a syringe to inseminate at home.

 

• • HSG: An X-ray to check for blockages in the fallopian tubes.

 

• • Hormone Panel: A blood test that checks key fertility hormones.

 

• • Hypothalamus: A brain region that regulates hormones.

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I

• • ICSI: A lab procedure — one sperm is injected directly into an egg.

 

• • Implantation: When a fertilised egg attaches to the uterus.

 

• • Implantation Bleeding: Light spotting that may happen when the embryo implants.

 

• • Insemination Kit: Tools for home insemination.

 

• • Insemination Syringe: A syringe designed for placing sperm near the cervix.

 

• • ICI: Intracervical insemination — sperm placed at the cervix.

 

• • IUI: Intrauterine insemination — sperm placed directly into the uterus.

 

• • IVF: Fertilising eggs in a lab, then transferring embryos to the uterus.

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J

• • Journey (TTC): Your path to parenthood — emotional, physical, unique, and valid.

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K

• • Known Donor: A donor whose identity is known to the recipient.

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L

• • Leakage: Fluid coming out after insemination — normal and expected.

 

• • Letrozole: A medication that stimulates ovulation.

 

• • LH: The hormone that signals your body to ovulate.

 

• • Luteal Phase: The second half of your cycle (post-ovulation).

 

• • LGBTQ+ Family Building: Fertility options designed for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples.

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M

• • Menstrual Cycle: The full monthly hormonal cycle — from period to ovulation to next period.

 

• • Miscarriage: Pregnancy loss before 20 weeks.

 

• • Monitored Cycle: A fertility treatment cycle with regular scans and bloodwork.

 

• • Motility: How well sperm swim.

 

• • Morphology: The shape and structure of sperm.

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N

• • Non-Anonymous Donor: A donor who may agree to future contact.

 

• • Natural Cycle: A non-medicated fertility cycle.

 

• • No Sperm Count (Azoospermia): A condition where no sperm are found in a sample.

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O

• • Ovarian Reserve: How many eggs are likely left in your ovaries.

 

• • Ovulation: The release of a mature egg.

 

• • Ovulation Pain: Twinges or cramping around the time an egg is released.

 

• • OPK: Ovulation Predictor Kit — tests LH levels to predict ovulation.

 

• • Oestrogen: A hormone that plays a key role in the menstrual cycle and ovulation.

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P

• • PCOS: A hormone condition that can affect ovulation.

 

• • Post-Insemination Care: Actions to support fertilisation after insemination.

 

• • Post-Ovulation: The luteal phase — after the egg is released.

 

• • Pre-Seed: A sperm-friendly lubricant.

 

• • Progesterone: Hormone that supports early pregnancy.

 

• • Pregnancy Test: Detects hCG in urine or blood to confirm pregnancy.

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Q

• • Quality of Embryo: How healthy and developed an embryo is — assessed in IVF labs.

 

• • Queer Family Building: Fertility support for queer individuals and couples.

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R

• • Reproductive Endocrinologist: A doctor who specialises in fertility.

 

• • Retention Cup: A soft cup that holds sperm near the cervix post-insemination.

 

• • Recipient: The person receiving donor sperm or an embryo.

 

• • Round: One complete IVF cycle.

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S

• • Secondary Infertility: Struggling to conceive after a previous child.

 

• • Specimen Cup: A sterile container used to collect sperm.

 

• • Sperm Motility: A measure of how well sperm move.

 

• • Sperm Washing: A process to prepare sperm for IUI or IVF.

 

• • Surge: A rapid increase in LH — means ovulation is near.

 

• • Symptothermal Method: A combo of BBT + mucus tracking to find fertile days.

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T

• • Timed Insemination: Aligning insemination with ovulation.

 

• • Trigger Shot: An injection that causes ovulation.

 

• • Two-Week Wait (TWW): The wait between ovulation/insemination and taking a pregnancy test.

 

• • Testosterone: A hormone found in all bodies, important for reproductive function.

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U

• • Uterus: The womb — where pregnancy develops.

 

• • Ultrasound: A scan to track follicles, eggs, or early pregnancy.

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V

• • Vaginal Insemination: Placing sperm into the vagina with a syringe or device.

 

• • Viability: Whether a pregnancy is likely to continue and result in a birth.

 

• • Viscosity: The texture or thickness of cervical mucus.

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W

• • Wash Protocol: A lab technique for preparing sperm before IUI.

 

• • Window of Implantation: The brief time when the uterus is most ready to accept an embryo.

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X

• • X-Chromosome: A sex chromosome found in both sperm and eggs — leads to female offspring when paired with another X.

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Y

• • Y-Chromosome: A sex chromosome carried only by sperm — leads to male offspring when paired with an X.

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Z

• • Zygote: The cell formed when a sperm fertilises an egg — the very start of new life.

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Keep Learning with Maia Baby

Fertility terms can feel overwhelming, but you're not alone on this journey. If you’re still curious about what’s normal after insemination, when to test, or how to time things right — we’ve got gentle, science-backed blogs that walk you through it all.

👉 Try these next:
• Best Time to Inseminate for Conception
• Early Pregnancy Testing Guide
• How Long Can Sperm Survive?

You’ve got this — and we’re here every step of the way.