Your Fertility Cheat Sheet: 30+ Terms Explained

If you've ever left a fertility appointment with a head full of letters that sound more like a government agency than a medical plan, you're in good company. FSH, AMH, HSG, IUI, ICSI, PGT-A. The fertility world runs on acronyms, and nobody hands you a decoder ring at the door.

This cheat sheet exists because you shouldn't need a medical degree to understand your own lab results. Every term below gets three things: what it actually is (in language a human would use), why it matters to your fertility picture, and what your doctor probably means when they bring it up. We've organized by category rather than alphabetically, because understanding how these pieces connect matters more than finding them in A-Z order.

Bookmark this. Come back to it, or forward it to your partner the night before your next appointment.

These are the chemical messengers that run your reproductive system. When your doctor orders blood work, these are the numbers they're looking at, and each one tells a slightly different part of the story.

What it is: A protein produced by the small follicles in your ovaries. It gives your doctor a snapshot of your ovarian reserve, meaning roughly how many eggs you have left. Unlike most fertility hormones, AMH stays relatively stable throughout your cycle, so it can be tested on any day. The ASRM considers AMH one of the most reliable markers of ovarian reserve.

Why it matters: AMH helps predict how your ovaries might respond to fertility medications. A lower AMH doesn't mean you can't get pregnant; it means your doctor may adjust your treatment approach.

What your doctor means when they say it: "Your AMH is on the lower side" usually means they want to discuss timing and treatment options sooner rather than later. It's a planning tool, not a verdict.

What it is: A hormone your brain produces to tell your ovaries to start growing follicles (the fluid-filled sacs that contain eggs) each cycle. FSH is tested on day 2 or 3 of your period. According to Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago, normal day-3 FSH levels typically fall between 3 and 9 mIU/mL.

Why it matters: Higher FSH can signal that your brain is working harder to stimulate your ovaries, which may indicate lower ovarian reserve. But a single elevated FSH reading isn't the full picture; your doctor will interpret it alongside AMH and AFC.

What your doctor means: "Your FSH is elevated" means the signal from your brain to your ovaries is louder than expected. It's one data point, not a diagnosis.

What it is: The hormone responsible for triggering ovulation. A surge in LH tells the dominant follicle to release an egg. This is what ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) measure.

Why it matters: LH helps confirm whether and when you're ovulating. Abnormal LH-to-FSH ratios can also be a clue to conditions like PCOS.

What your doctor means: "We're monitoring your LH surge" means they're timing things precisely, whether for intercourse, insemination, or egg retrieval.

What it is: The primary form of estrogen. It's produced by growing follicles and is usually tested alongside FSH on day 2 or 3. The Cleveland Clinic notes that estradiol helps thicken the uterine lining in preparation for implantation.

Why it matters: An elevated early estradiol can artificially suppress FSH, masking low reserve. Your doctor checks both together.

What it is: The hormone that rises after ovulation to prepare and maintain the uterine lining for a potential pregnancy. It's sometimes called the "pregnancy-sustaining" hormone.

Why it matters: Low progesterone after ovulation can make it harder for an embryo to implant. It's also the hormone responsible for most of those maddening luteal-phase symptoms (bloating, breast tenderness, fatigue) that feel identical to early pregnancy signs. According to the Cleveland Clinic, progesterone levels are essentially the same in pregnant and non-pregnant cycles until about 9 to 10 days after ovulation.

What they are: TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) measures thyroid function. Prolactin is the hormone associated with milk production. Both are commonly screened during a fertility workup because imbalances in either can interfere with ovulation. The ASRM's 2021 committee opinion on evaluating infertility recommends thyroid screening as part of the standard workup.

Beyond blood work, these are the tests that help your doctor see what's happening structurally and functionally inside your reproductive system.

What it is: An X-ray procedure where dye is pushed through your uterus and fallopian tubes to check for blockages or structural abnormalities. Yes, it can be uncomfortable. No, you're not being dramatic if it hurts.

Why it matters: Blocked or damaged tubes are one of the most common causes of infertility, and an HSG is the primary way to check for them. Some research suggests a slight fertility boost in the cycle following an HSG, possibly because the dye flushes minor debris.

What your doctor means: "We'd like to do an HSG" means they want to rule out tubal issues before deciding on a treatment path.

What it is: Also called a sonohysterogram. Saline is injected into the uterus during an ultrasound to get a clearer picture of the uterine cavity. It's used to check for polyps, fibroids, or other structural issues that could affect implantation.

What it is: A transvaginal ultrasound done early in your cycle to count the small resting follicles visible on each ovary. The ASRM considers AFC, alongside AMH, one of the best measures of ovarian reserve.

Why it matters: A higher AFC generally suggests a larger pool of available eggs and a likely stronger response to stimulation medications. A lower count helps your doctor calibrate medication dosing.

What it is: A lab test that evaluates sperm count, motility (how well they swim), morphology (shape), and volume. It's one of the first tests ordered in any fertility evaluation, because male-factor issues contribute to roughly half of all infertility cases.

What your doctor means: "The semen analysis was abnormal" could mean any number of things. Ask which parameter was off; count, motility, and morphology each point toward different next steps.

What it is: A biopsy of the uterine lining that tests whether your endometrium is receptive to an embryo at the time of transfer. It's newer, not universally recommended, and sometimes suggested after repeated implantation failures.

If your doctor has given you a diagnosis, or mentioned one of these terms as a possibility, here's what they actually mean.

What it is: A hormonal condition affecting roughly 1 in 10 people with ovaries. Despite the name, it's not really about cysts. It involves irregular ovulation, elevated androgens (like testosterone), and sometimes insulin resistance. The Mayo Clinic describes it as one of the most common causes of ovulatory infertility.

What your doctor means: "You have PCOS" doesn't mean you can't get pregnant. It means ovulation may be irregular, and there are well-studied treatments to help.

What it is: A condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or pelvic lining. It can cause pain, inflammation, and fertility challenges. Diagnosis often requires laparoscopic surgery.

What it is: A reduction in the number or quality of eggs remaining. It can show up as low AMH, high FSH, or low AFC. It's more common with age but can occur in younger patients too.

Why it matters: DOR may affect how your body responds to fertility medications. It's a factor in treatment planning, not a prediction about whether pregnancy is possible.

What it is: A diagnosis given when standard tests (blood work, imaging, semen analysis) come back normal, but conception hasn't happened after 12 months of trying (or 6 months if you're over 35). According to RESOLVE, it accounts for roughly 30% of infertility cases.

What your doctor means: "Unexplained" doesn't mean "nothing is wrong." It means the standard tests haven't found the cause. There may be subtler factors at play, including egg quality, fertilization issues, or implantation challenges that current testing can't easily measure.

What it is: A category that covers any sperm-related issue contributing to difficulty conceiving, including low count, poor motility, abnormal morphology, or structural or hormonal problems.

The interventions your care team may recommend. These range from relatively simple to highly involved.

What it is: Oral medications that stimulate ovulation. Clomid (clomiphene citrate) and Letrozole (Femara) are the most common. They're often a first-line treatment for irregular ovulation.

What it is: An injection of hCG (or sometimes a GnRH agonist) that triggers the final maturation and release of eggs. Ovulation typically occurs 36 to 40 hours after the shot, which is how your doctor times IUI or egg retrieval precisely.

What it is: A procedure where washed, concentrated sperm is placed directly into the uterus through a thin catheter, timed to ovulation. It's less invasive and less expensive than IVF. According to the ASRM's patient fact sheet, IUI is often tried before moving to IVF, especially for unexplained infertility or mild male factor issues.

What it is: A multi-step process: stimulate the ovaries with injectable medications, retrieve eggs surgically, fertilize them with sperm in a lab, grow the resulting embryos for 5 to 6 days, and transfer one (or occasionally more) back to the uterus.

What your doctor means: "IVF might be the most direct path" means they believe other treatments are less likely to work for your situation, and IVF gives the most control over each step of the process.

What it is: A technique used during IVF where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg, rather than allowing sperm to fertilize the egg on its own. The UCSF Center for Reproductive Health notes it's typically recommended for significant male factor issues or prior fertilization failure.

What it is: A transfer using an embryo that was previously frozen (vitrified). Many IVF cycles now involve freezing all embryos after retrieval and transferring in a subsequent cycle, which allows time for genetic testing results and for the body to recover from stimulation.

These tests are typically done on embryos during an IVF cycle, before transfer. The ACOG published updated guidance on preimplantation testing in 2020 (reaffirmed in 2023).

What it is: Screens embryos for the correct number of chromosomes (46). An embryo with too many or too few chromosomes (called aneuploidy) is less likely to implant, more likely to miscarry, or may result in a chromosomal condition.

What your doctor means: "We recommend PGT-A" means they want to select embryos with the best chance of a healthy pregnancy, particularly if you're over 35 or have experienced repeated losses.

What it is: Tests embryos for a specific known genetic condition that one or both parents carry, such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, or BRCA mutations. Unlike PGT-A, this test is customized to your family's genetics.

What it is: Tests for chromosomal rearrangements like translocations or inversions. Recommended when one partner is a known carrier of a structural chromosomal abnormality.

What it is: A blood test (for parents, not embryos) that checks whether you carry genes for certain inherited conditions. Ideally done before or early in the fertility process so results can inform treatment decisions.

Fertility treatment generates a lot of numbers. Here's how to read the most common ones without spiraling.

What it means: Blood work drawn on the second or third day of your menstrual cycle (day 1 = first day of full flow). Typically includes FSH, estradiol, and sometimes LH. This timing is important because it captures your hormones at their baseline, before the cycle's dominant follicle takes over.

What it means: The number of follicles growing during a medicated cycle, monitored via ultrasound. During IVF stimulation, your doctor will track how many follicles are developing and at what size. Not every follicle will contain a mature egg.

Morphology: The percentage of sperm with a normal shape. Even in fertile individuals, normal morphology is often only 4% to 14%, according to the Mayo Clinic. A low morphology score is common and doesn't necessarily mean treatment is needed.

Motility: The percentage of sperm that are actively swimming. Progressive motility (swimming forward in a straight line) matters most.

Concentration: The number of sperm per milliliter of semen. The WHO reference value is 16 million per mL or higher.

What it means: A general term for the estimated quantity of remaining eggs. It's not a single test but a picture built from AMH, FSH, estradiol, and AFC together. The ASRM notes that ovarian reserve tests predict response to stimulation, but they do not definitively predict the ability to conceive.

What your doctor means: "Your ovarian reserve is lower than expected for your age" is a statement about egg quantity indicators, not about your chances of becoming a parent. It's information for building a plan, not a ceiling on what's possible.

Knowing the words won't make the waiting rooms less cold or the phone calls less nerve-wracking. But it can make the conversations clearer. When your doctor says something and you know what it means, you get to ask better questions, make more informed decisions, and feel a little less like a passenger in your own care.

Keep this somewhere you can find it. And if a term comes up that's not here, ask your doctor to explain it in plain language. You have every right to understand exactly what's happening with your body.