A variation of the short protocol for using GnRH-agonists with injections of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) for controlled induction of superovulation in assisted conception programs. The GnRH-agonist is started with menstruation, a day or two before the injections of FSH start, and is discontinued after about 5 days from starting it (i.e. often a week or more before ovulation). There are no special advantages, whereas there's a potential disadvantage: a much more thorough suppression of the woman's own luteinising hormone (and maybe FSH) than if the GnRH-agonist is continued -- potentially causing stimulated follicles to 'run out of puff' before they are fully mature. The ultrashort protocol should not be used with pure forms of FSH, such as Fertinex, Gonal-F, Metrodin HP or Puregon, or poor egg quality will result if some luteinising hormone is not administered.

An imaging procedure like radar, but using high frequency sound waves; used for diagnosis (and, by physical therapists, in a different energy band, for treatment).

Infertility for which no obvious cause has been found after the following tests have been done with normal results: a sperm count or postcoital test; a test of ovulation, such as a serum progesterone that is satisfactorily high; and a laparoscopy (used to show that the tubes are open and that there is no endometriosis or other obvious abnormality). Although a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) can substitute for laparoscopy in excluding blockage of the fallopian tubes, an HSG can miss peritubal adhesions and will miss endometriosis. Infertility should not be considered unexplained unless a thorough, careful laparoscopy has been done.

A uterine anomaly that comes about when the uterus forms (in the embryo) from just one Mullerian duct; the uterus will be a little smaller than normal (making a miscarriage or premature labor more likely), and will be connected by a fallopian tube to just one ovary, contributing slightly to infertility (since, on average, only half of ovulations have a chance of resulting in pregnancy). Reproduction, however, can be normal, and a woman might go through life with a unicornuate uterus and not know it. Diagnosed by hysteroscopy and laparoscopy, by hysterosalpingogram or -- particularly effectively -- by three-dimensional ultrasound. Often there is a simultaneous abnormality of the kidneys, such as one kidney instead of two, diagnosable by abdominal ultrasound or, more specifically, by a special kidney x-ray study called an intravenous pyelogram.

A home test for ovulation in which the urine is tested for luteinising hormone. If the urine shows a positive test, ovulation will usually take place within 24 to 36 hours. Electronic devices that perform the same function are available (and are increasingly popular in the U.K.).

Generic name for FSH derived from the urine of menopausal women sources. FSH of recombinant (synthetic) origin is called follitropin.

Abnormality of the shape of the uterus a woman is born with (it is congenital); some uterine anomalies tend to cause recurrent miscarriages, premature labor or breech births.

A septum or wall separating the cavity of the uterus into two halves; a cause of recurrent miscarriages.

The womb, in which pregnancy is gestated from the time of implantation of the embryo until delivery or miscarriage; formed from the joining of the two Mullerian ducts (in the absence of anti-Mullerian hormone); composed of the main, upper part (the uterine fundus) and a lower neck, or cervix, which connects it to the upper part of the vagina; most of its wall is made of muscle tissue (the myometrium), but with an inner lining of glands (the endometrium) and, on the outer surface, a thin covering of uterine serosa. Best seen on transvaginal ultrasound, especially a three-dimensional ultrasound; its cavity is best displayed with a hysterosalpingogram (or, strictly, a hysterogram).

A set of ethical beliefs based on maximising good for the greatest number of people. For modern purposes, similar to teleological ethics (i.e. consequential considerations) but with a community-wide reference instead of a context of individual priority. Nowadays concerned with the equitable and consistent distribution of restricted public resources. Open to change according to the systematic assessment of outcomes (and hence 'evidence based').