| ACTH |
| A hormone produced by the pituitary gland to stimulate the adrenal glands. Excessive levels may lead to fertility problems. |
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| Acupuncture |
| A Chinese practice of puncturing the body with needles at specific points to cure disease or relieve pain. |
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| Adrenal Androgens |
| Male hormones produced by the adrenal gland. Excess androgens in the woman may lead to the formation of male secondary sex characteristics and the suppression of LH and FSH production by the pituitary gland. Elevated levels of androgens may be found in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, or with a tumor in the pituitary gland, adrenal gland, or ovary. May also be associated with excess prolactin levels. |
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| Adrenal Gland |
| Produces hormones that help control the heart rate, blood pressure, the way the body uses food, and other vital functions. The adrenal cortex secretes steroid (cortisone-related) hormones and mineralocortoids that regulate the levels of minerals such as sodium and potassium in the blood. |
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| Adult-Onset Diabetes |
| Former term for non-insulin-dependent or type II diabetes. |
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| Aldactone |
| See Spironolactone |
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| Alexandrite Laser |
| A laser hair removal system, which was cleared by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to market in the U.S. in 1997. See Laser Hair Removal. |
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| Alpha Cell |
| A type of cell in the pancreas (in areas called the islets of Langerhans). Alpha cells make and release a hormone called glucogen, which raises the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. |
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| Alpha-Lipoic Acid |
| A supplement that is being studied—and already marketed—as a preventive and/or treatment for many age-related diseases, from heart disease and stroke to diabetes and cataracts. |
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| Amenorrhea |
| The absence of menstrual cycles. (The absence of menstrual cycles in a woman who has menstruated at one time, but who has not had a period for six months or more may be known as secondary amenorrhea). |
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| Amino Acid |
| The building blocks of proteins; the main material of the body's cells. Insulin is made of 51 amino acids joined together. |
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| Androgens |
| Male sex hormones, such as testosterone and androstenedione. |
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| Androstenedione |
| A male sex hormone. |
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| Anorexia Nervosa |
| A life-threatening eating disorder; self-imposed starvation. |
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| Anovulation |
| The failure to ovulate; ovulatory failure. |
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| Arteriosclerosis |
| A group of diseases in which the walls of the arteries get thick and harden. In one type of arteriosclerosis, fat builds up inside the walls and slows the blood flow. These diseases often occur in people who have had insulin issues and diabetes for a long time. |
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| Artery |
| A large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Arteries are thicker and have walls that are stronger and more elastic than the walls of veins. |
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| Artificial Insemination (AI) |
| The depositing of sperm in the vagina near the cervix or directly into the uterus, with the use of a syringe instead of by coitus. |
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| Assisted hatching |
| Thinning of the embryo's outer egg shell (zona pellucida) prior to embryo transfer. Indicated for couples with advanced maternal reproductive age, elevated FSH levels, and prior repetitive IVF failures. |
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| Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) |
| Several procedures employed to bring about conception without sexual intercourse, including IUI, GIFT and ZIFT. |
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| Atherosclerosis |
| One of many diseases in which fat builds up in the large- and medium-sized arteries. This buildup of fat may slow down or stop blood flow. This disease can happen to people who have had diabetes for a long time. |
