Glossary

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S

Selective reduction: The procedure in which one or more normal foetuses in a multiple pregnancy resulting from assisted conception are destroyed.  The procedure may be hazardous to the remaining foetus(es).

Seminiferous tubules: Very long and convoluted tubules which make up the bulk of the testicles. It is here that sperm is produced.


Sex selection: The sex of an embryo is determined using PGD, in order to avoid sex-linked diseases.


Singleton Birth: The birth of a single baby at a live birth event.

Sperm: The gamete (or mature male germ cell) produced by the male, usually through ejaculation. Millions of sperm are present in each ejaculate and roughly half of these will carry X chromosomes, the other half carrying Y chromosomes. A single sperm is called a spermatozoon. 

Sperm sorting: The separation of sperm carrying X chromosomes from those carrying Y chromosomes prior to fertilisation, in order to determine the sex of the offspring. Used for sex selection.

Spermatid: An immature sperm cell. 

Stem cell: Undifferentiated primitive cells whihc have the capacity to develop (differentiate) into a large number of different cell types.

Stillbirth: Birth of a baby after 24 weeks gestation showing no sign of life. 

Stimulated cycle: A treatment cycle in which stimulation drugs are used to produce more eggs than usual in the woman's monthly cycle. 

Stimulation drugs: Drugs used to stimulate a woman's ovaries to produce more eggs than usual in a monthly cycle; also known as superovulatory drugs. 


Subzonal sperm insertion (SUZI): A technique whereby one or several sperm are injected directly through the zona pellucida (outer layer) of the oocyte.


Superovulation/stimulation: The medical stimulation of the ovary with hormones to induce the production of multiple egg-containing follicles in a single menstrual cycle.

Surrogacy: The process of a woman carrying a baby for another person. Full surrogacy involves the implantation of an embryo created using either the eggs and sperm of the intended parents, a donated egg fertilised with sperm from the intended father or an embryo created using donor eggs and sperm. Partial surrogacy involves sperm from the intended father and an egg from the surrogate.

SUZI: Sub zonal insemination 

 Swim up: A technique for separating sperm, based on their ability to swim through a liquid.

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Page last updated: 18 July 2012