Glossary

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Estrogen

It is one of the female hormones, sometimes called estrogen. Its secretion increases during ovulation, thickening the uterine lining and promoting the secretion of cervical mucus.

Luteal corpus

The corpus luteum is a modified follicle formed after ovulation. It secretes a hormone called progesterone, which prepares the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized egg and helps maintain pregnancy. If the corpus luteum does not function properly, it leads to luteal phase defect, which can cause implantation problems and other issues.

Luteal phase defect

This refers to a condition where the secretory phase of the uterine lining, which serves as the baby's bed, does not occur normally due to insufficient progesterone secretion. This can lead to implantation failure or, even if implantation occurs, early miscarriage.

Progesterone

It is one of the female hormones, sometimes called progesterone. After ovulation, the follicle transforms into a corpus luteum, which secretes progesterone. This luteal hormone prepares the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized egg.

Vaginal discharge

Vaginal discharge is secreted from the cervix and vagina and plays a role in preventing bacteria from entering the vagina. If infection occurs and inflammation develops, the smell and color of the discharge will change. Changes in vaginal discharge can help detect diseases specific to women. Also, during ovulation, more discharge is secreted than usual, making it easier for sperm to enter the vagina.

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Chemical pregnancy

This refers to a condition where a pregnancy test shows a positive result, but no gestational sac is detected in the uterus, and then menstruation begins a few days later, expelling the fertilized egg from the body along with the blood.

Basal body temperature

Basal body temperature is the temperature you take each morning upon waking up while at rest. By measuring your basal body temperature, you can learn about your menstrual cycle, whether or not you ovulate, and your hormone balance.

Chlamydia test

This is a type of infertility test. Chlamydia is an infection that often goes untreated because it usually has few noticeable symptoms. When chlamydia reaches the fallopian tubes from the uterus, it causes inflammation of the uterine lining and fallopian tubes, which can lead to fallopian tube blockage and adhesions. This can result in infertility.

Cervical mucus examination

This is a type of infertility test. Cervical mucus is mucus secreted from the cervix, and its amount and consistency change according to the menstrual cycle. Abnormalities in the consistency or amount of cervical mucus can be a cause of infertility, so testing is necessary.

Blood and hormone tests

This is a type of infertility test. It examines hormone levels in blood and urine to predict ovulation, identify menstrual irregularities, and pinpoint the causes of infertility.

Menstruation

The uterine lining thickens to prepare for the arrival of a fertilized egg formed by the combination of an egg and sperm. If pregnancy does not occur, the thickened uterine lining sheds approximately two weeks after ovulation. This is called menstruation (period).

Menstrual cycle

The menstrual cycle is the number of days from the start of menstruation to the day before the next menstruation begins. A normal cycle is 25 to 38 days, but if it is less than 24 days, it may be an anovulatory cycle, and if it is longer than 39 days, it may be amenorrhea (absence of menstruation).

High temperature phase

This is the period when basal body temperature is high. During the menstrual cycle, after ovulation, progesterone (luteal hormone) is secreted to prepare the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized egg. Because progesterone raises body temperature, body temperature remains high. If pregnancy does not occur, menstruation begins about two weeks later, and body temperature returns to its original low level.

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Lowest body temperature day

During ovulation, body temperature remains low, but the day when temperature drops sharply is called the lowest temperature day. It is said that there is a 50-60% chance that this "lowest temperature day" is the day of ovulation, and in reality, ovulation usually occurs a few days before or after the lowest temperature day.

Uterus

The uterine lining acts as an incubator, providing nutrients to the fertilized egg and protecting it while allowing the fetus to develop. During pregnancy, it expands to about 30 cm in length and 25 cm in width. It is made of muscle called the myometrium and is characterized by its ability to expand and contract significantly.

Uterine fibroids

This is a benign tumor that develops in the muscles that make up the uterus. Some women experience menstrual cramps or anemia, but it is a particularly common disease among women with few noticeable symptoms. It rarely transforms into a malignant tumor, but depending on its location and size, it can cause infertility.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis refers to the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. It is most commonly found in the abdominal cavity, such as the ovaries or cul-de-sac, and in the ovaries, it often forms tumors called chocolate cysts. Furthermore, severe cases of endometriosis can cause adhesions in the abdominal cavity, leading to infertility. It is estimated that approximately half of infertility cases are due to endometriosis.

Hysterosalpingography (HSG)

The fallopian tubes are tubes about 10 cm long that extend from the uterus, with one on each side. The fallopian tubes capture the egg after ovulation and provide a site for sperm and egg fertilization, so blockage or adhesions in the fallopian tubes can cause infertility. Hysterosalpingography is a test in which a contrast agent is injected into the uterus to check the patency of the fallopian tubes and whether or not there are any adhesions.

Fertilization, fertilized egg

Fertilization is the process by which sperm enter an egg, and the resulting egg is called a fertilized egg. First, sperm are released into the vagina, pass through the uterus, and travel to the fallopian tube where the egg awaits. Having acquired the ability to fertilize, the sperm reach the ampulla of the fallopian tube and wait for the egg. When ovulation occurs, the sperm surround the egg. One of the sperm breaks through the zona pellucida surrounding the egg and enters it, completing the fertilization process. Once one sperm enters the egg, a barrier is formed around it, preventing other sperm from entering.

Artificial insemination

This method involves artificially injecting semen containing only healthy sperm into a woman's uterus. Fertilization and subsequent implantation occur naturally after injection. Artificial insemination can also be performed using frozen sperm. The cost is approximately tens of thousands of yen per procedure.

Semen, sperm

Semen is the fluid ejaculated from the male genitalia. Besides sperm, it contains secretions from the testes, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands. The reproductive cells of a man are also called sperm. The testes produce 3 to 50 million sperm per day, and their lifespan is said to be 2 to 5 days. A single ejaculation releases 2 to 4 cc of semen, containing approximately 200 to 300 million sperm.

Prostate gland

It is one of the male reproductive organs and secretes prostatic fluid. It also plays a role in producing components that liquefy the coagulation of sperm that enter the vagina.

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In vitro fertilization

This method involves retrieving eggs from the ovaries, fertilizing them with sperm outside the body, and then returning the fertilized eggs to the uterus. The overall pregnancy rate for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is approximately 25% for women aged 35 and about 14% for women in their 40s. While the cost is high, it may be covered by infertility treatment subsidies, so check your local government's website for details.

Timing method, timing therapy

This method involves confirming egg maturity through ultrasound examinations and having sexual intercourse on the ovulation day predicted by a doctor. Since an egg is only capable of being fertilized for 24 hours after ovulation, the purpose of timing intercourse is to predict the ovulation day and ensure that sperm meet the egg within that 24-hour period. It is said that if you repeatedly have intercourse at the right time, the probability of getting pregnant is about 80% in a year for healthy men and women. Ovulation is also confirmed by ultrasound examinations. Timing therapy is used in many cases, and it involves predicting and checking for ovulation, and in some cases, ovulation-inducing drugs may be used.

Implantation

Implantation is the process by which a fertilized egg implants itself in the thickened uterine lining, taking root and firmly connecting with the mother's body. Pregnancy is established upon this implantation. Once the fertilized egg implants, the woman's body reacts immediately, and the next menstruation or ovulation stops.

morning sickness

This refers to nausea, vomiting, and general malaise that occur in early pregnancy. The symptoms usually subside around the third or fourth month of pregnancy and gradually disappear. Symptoms similar to morning sickness that occur in the second or third trimester are called "late-pregnancy morning sickness."

Low temperature period

This is the period when basal body temperature is low. It refers to the period from the start of menstruation to ovulation, when the egg matures, and usually lasts 12 to 14 days. Estrogen (follicle hormone) is secreted to thicken the uterine lining. Body temperature remains low during the menstrual and follicular phases.

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Trying to conceive

This term encompasses all actions taken to conceive, from thinking about wanting a baby soon, to discussing pregnancy with your spouse, to gathering knowledge and taking action, to preparing your body for pregnancy, and even to undergoing medical fertility treatment.

Pregnancy rate

The probability of getting pregnant. Ovulation occurs once a month, and the five days from three days before ovulation to the day after ovulation are considered the most fertile period. In particular, having intercourse one day before ovulation and on the day of ovulation increases the chances of getting pregnant. Some reports suggest that if healthy men and women repeatedly time their intercourse, the chances of getting pregnant can increase to 80% in one year. However, the probability of ovulating healthy eggs decreases with age, and sperm aging can also lower the chances of getting pregnant.

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Ovulation

Around the time menstruation begins, approximately 20 follicles appear in the ovaries, and one of them (the dominant follicle) matures to about 20 mm in size in two weeks. When the follicle matures, the ovary secretes estrogen (follicle hormone), and the brain responds by secreting luteinizing hormone (LH), which triggers ovulation. This refers to the phenomenon where the mature egg is released from the surface of the ovary.

Ovulation bleeding

Uterine bleeding that occurs during ovulation. It is caused by hormonal changes during ovulation and usually stops within 2-3 days.

Ovulation pain

Ovulation pain occurs during ovulation. While the pain may be felt throughout the entire lower abdomen, it can also be localized to one side of the lower abdomen (near the ovary). However, ovulation pain varies from person to person.

Ovulation day

Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovary, and the day of ovulation is called the ovulation day. The five days from three days before ovulation to the day after ovulation are considered the most fertile period. It is especially important to have intercourse (sex) the day before ovulation and on the day of ovulation.

Huhner Test

This is a type of infertility test. The ovulation day is predicted in advance, and intercourse takes place on the morning of the designated day or the day before, with the test performed within a few hours. The test examines the compatibility between the woman's uterine mucus and sperm.

Infertility

This refers to a situation where a couple has been having regular sexual intercourse for more than a year without conceiving. The causes of infertility are varied.

Infertility testing

These tests identify the cause of infertility. They encompass a wide range of tests, including blood hormone tests, ultrasound examinations, post-coital tests (Huhner tests), and AMH tests.

Premature pregnancy test

Generally, the recommended time to use a pregnancy test is "about a week after your expected period," but using a test earlier than that is considered premature. Premature testing can lead to inaccurate results or even reveal a chemical pregnancy.

Progesterone

It is one of the female hormones, sometimes called luteal hormone. After ovulation, the follicle transforms into a corpus luteum, which secretes progesterone. This progesterone plays a role in preparing the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized egg.

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Anovulatory menstruation

Anovulatory menstruation is a condition where menstruation occurs but ovulation does not. It is a type of ovulation disorder and can cause infertility. If your basal body temperature remains almost flat and you cannot detect a high-temperature phase, you may be experiencing anovulatory menstruation.

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Folic acid

Folic acid is a type of vitamin B. It is abundant in vegetables and liver, and a deficiency can lead to anemia. It is also a nutrient that is expected to play a role in preventing neural tube defects in babies. Folic acid intake is recommended during the early stages of pregnancy when the central nervous system is developing.

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Egg cell

Eggs are female reproductive cells that contain genetic information. One egg matures and is released from the ovary during a set cycle. The number of eggs stored in a woman's ovaries is determined at birth and does not increase.

Ovaries

The female reproductive organs are located inside the body. There is one on each side, and each month, one of them releases an egg, which is a female gamete, through ovulation. They secrete female hormones, which have a significant impact on the establishment and continuation of pregnancy.

follicle

The ovary is a fluid-filled sac containing an egg. When menstruation begins and the follicular phase starts, the follicle matures due to follicle-stimulating hormone. Estrogen (follicle hormone) is then secreted from this follicle.

Follicle-stimulating hormone

This hormone, secreted by the pituitary gland, stimulates the ovaries to promote follicular development and sperm formation. If follicle-stimulating hormone levels are higher than normal, it may indicate impaired ovarian function.

Miscarriage

A miscarriage is the termination of a pregnancy before 22 weeks. Most miscarriages are early miscarriages that occur within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and most of the causes of miscarriages are said to be chromosomal abnormalities. Most fertilized eggs with chromosomal abnormalities do not make it to birth and are naturally eliminated as the pregnancy progresses. The rate of miscarriage increases with age, so couples who hope to have children someday should consider their age when planning to conceive.

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AMH test

This is a type of infertility test. AMH, also known as anti-Müllerian hormone, is a hormone secreted by developing follicles. By taking a blood sample and predicting the number of eggs remaining in the ovaries, this test reveals the ovarian reserve capacity.

hCG hormone

When a woman becomes pregnant, a hormone called hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is secreted and excreted in the urine. Pregnancy tests detect this hCG in the urine to confirm pregnancy.

LH (Luteinizing Hormone)

This hormone acts on mature follicles, causing the ovary to release an egg (ovulation). While it is normally secreted in small amounts, its secretion increases sharply when the egg matures, and this rapid rise (LH surge) triggers ovulation. Generally, ovulation is known to occur within approximately 40 hours of the start of rising LH levels in the blood and urine.

LH surge

A sudden surge in LH levels is called an LH surge. LH is normally secreted in small amounts, but when the egg matures, the amount secreted increases rapidly, and this surge (LH surge) triggers ovulation. Generally, ovulation occurs within about 40 hours of the LH surge.