Definitions

A-G

Aromatase inhibitors (AI):

Inhibitors of the aromatase enzyme, the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone to oestradiol.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART):

Treatments or procedures that address fertility. ART includes intrauterine insemination, in-vitro fertilisation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection and other fertility-related treatments or procedures.

Azoospermia factor (AZF):

Region of the Y chromosome containing genes required for male fertility. Genetic deletions in this region are associated with an inability to produce sperm. AZFa and AZFb are subregions within the AZF region.

Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD):

A rare urogenital tract malformation characterised by improper development of the vas deferens leading to male infertility. 

Conventional TESE:

Surgical sperm retrieval procedure where tissue is removed from the testicle via a single or multiple open biopsies without magnification. 

Cryptorchidism:

Congenital condition characterised by the absence of at least one testicle from the scrotum; this often manifests unilaterally or bilaterally.

Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR):

Gene in which mutations cause an inherited disease known as cystic fibrosis and which is associated with infertility in affected males.

Ejaculatory duct obstruction (EDO):

Condition in which there is a blockage (obstruction) in one or both ejaculatory ducts.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA):

Procedure in which a thin needle and a syringe is used retrieve testis tissue.

FSH:

Follicle stimulating hormone.

GnRH:

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone.

Guideline statement (GS):

Statement from the Australian panel of experts that is intended to guide medical practitioners in the diagnosis and management of male infertility.

H-N

hCG:

Human chorionic gonadotrophin.

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH):

Condition involving dysfunction of hormone production by the hypothalamus and/or pituitary, leading to a reduction in gonadotrophin stimulation of the testes.

Idiopathic:

Disease or condition of unknown cause.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF):

Process where an oocyte (egg) is fertilised by a sperm in vitro (outside the body).

Infertility:

An inability to achieve a spontaneous pregnancy despite at least 12 months of regular intercourse without contraception.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI):

Process where a sperm is injected directly into an oocyte (egg) to facilitate fertilisation.

Intra-uterine insemination (IUI):

Process involving transferring ejaculated sperm to the uterus to facilitate conception.

Klinefelter syndrome:

Genetic syndrome caused by one or more extra X chromosomes in males.

LH:

Luteinising hormone.

Male infertility:

The inability of a male to make a fertile female pregnant for a minimum of at least one year of regular unprotected intercourse.

Microdissection (micro)-TESE:

Surgical sperm retrieval procedure where tissue is removed from the testicle using an operating microscope and microsurgical techniques to extract seminiferous tubules that are more likely to contain sperm.

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging.

Non-obstructive azoospermia (OA):

An absence of sperm in the ejaculate due to the failure of spermatogenesis in the testis.

O-Z

Obstructive azoospermia (OA):

An absence of sperm in the ejaculate despite normal spermatogenesis in the testis

Orchidectomy:

A surgical procedure in which one or both (bilateral orchidectomy) of the testicles are removed.

Orchidopexy:

Surgical procedure that moves an undescended testicle into the scrotum.

Pyospermia:

Otherwise known as leukocytospermia, defined as the presence of more than one million white blood cells in 1 mL of ejaculate.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL):

Defined as two or more unexplained pregnancy losses.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs):

Pharmacological agents that interact with the oestrogen receptor to selectively stimulate or inhibit oestrogen-dependent activities in tissues.

SHBG:

Sex hormone binding globulin.

Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF):

Single-stranded or double-stranded breaks in the genome of spermatozoa.

Testicular sperm aspiration (TESA):

Procedure involving inserting a needle in the testis and aspirating fluid and tissue with negative pressure.

Testicular sperm extraction (TESE):

Surgical sperm retrieval procedure in which tissue is removed from the testicle and sperm are extracted from the tissue in a laboratory. 

Transurethral resection of ejaculatory ducts (TURED):

Surgical procedure to remove obstruction in the ejaculatory ducts.

TRUS:

Transrectal ultrasonography.

Varicocele:

Enlargement of the veins within the scrotum.