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Glossary
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| Immune system |
The body's defense against any injury or
invasion by a foreign substance or organism |
| Immunoglobulins |
A class of proteins endowed with antibody
activity; antibodies |
| Immunosuppressive drug |
A drug that interferes with the normal immune response
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| Implantation |
Attachment of the fertilized egg to the uterine lining,
usually occurring five to seven days after ovulation
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| Impotence |
Inability of a man to achieve an erection
or ejaculation |
| Incompetent cervix |
Cervix with the inability to remain closed
throughout an entire pregnancy; a frequent cause of
premature birth |
| Infertility |
inability of a couple to achieve a pregnancy
or to carry a pregnancy to term after one year of unprotected
intercourse |
| Inflammation |
A response to some type of injury such as infection,
characterized by increased blood flow, heat, redness,
swelling, and pain |
| Intracervical insemination (ICI) |
Artificial insemination of sperm into the
cervical canal |
| Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
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A breakthrough technique where a single
sperm can by microsurgically injected into the cytoplasm
of an egg to develop into a fertilized embryo. Procedure
has given new hope to men with poor semen quality or
azozoospermia. |
| Intratubal insemination (ITI) |
artificial insemination of sperm, which
have been washed free of seminal fluid, into the fallopian
tubes |
| Intrauterine insemination (IUI) |
artificial insemination of sperm, which
have been washed free of seminal fluid, into the uterine
cavity |
| In vitro fertilization (IVF) |
(Literally, "in glass") fertilization outside
of the body in a laboratory; the term "test tube baby"
is inaccurate since fertilization occurs in a small
circular dish, not a test tube |
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