| Obesity |
| When people have 20 percent (or more) extra body fat for their age, height, sex, and bone structure. Fat works against the action of insulin. |
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| Obstetrician |
| A doctor who sees and gives care to pregnant women and delivers babies. |
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| Oligomenorrhea |
| Infrequent menstrual periods. |
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| Omega-3 Fatty Acids |
| Nutrients of EPA & DHA which are present in fish body oils have the potential for improving the health of cardio-vascular system. Medical reports show that as the amount of EPA in the diet increases, the risk of coronary heart disease decreases. In a nutshell, EPA from fish oils lowers serum cholesterol & triglyceride levels, make your blood less viscous, thinner & less sticky, less prone to clump together. Diets of Eskimo and coastal Japanese are rich in the Omega 3 fatty acids, EPA & DHA. Their death rate from heart attacks is much lower when compared to the Western man. DHA is a major component of the brain and retina, and has a possible role in nerve transmission. |
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| Oocyte |
| The mature female gamete. Contains ½ of the chromosomes required to form an embryo. |
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| Oral Contraceptive (OC) |
| A medication that prevents ovulation and pregnancy. Up to 3 percent of women taking the Pill will become anovulatory when they stop taking it. The regulatory effects of the Pill can also disguise symptoms of fertility problems-- for example, an irregular cycle or endometriosis. May be used to control the symptoms and development of endometriosis. |
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| Ovarian Cyst |
| A fluid-filled sac inside the ovary. An ovarian cyst may be found in conjunction with ovulation disorders, tumors of the ovary, and endometriosis. See also Chocolate Cyst. |
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| Ovarian Failure |
| The failure of the ovary to respond to FSH stimulation from the pituitary because of damage to or malformation of the ovary. Diagnosed by elevated FSH in the blood. |
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| Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) |
| A potentially life-threatening side effect of Pergonal ovulation induction treatment. Arises when too many follicles develop and hCG is given to release the eggs. May be prevented by withholding the hCG injection when ultrasound monitoring indicates that too many follicles have matured. |
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| Ovulation |
| The release of the egg (ovum) from the ovarian follicle. |
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| Ovulation induction |
| Use of medication to recruit and develop many eggs. Clomiphene citrate, Lupron, and injectable FSH are used for ovulation induction and IVF. Frequently coupled with intrauterine inseminations. See also Clomiphene Citrate; Pergonal. |
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| Ovulation predictor kit |
| A way to measure for luteinizing hormone in urine. Ovulation occurs twenty-four to thirty-six hours after detection of a change in the ovulation predictor kit. |
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| Ovulatory Failure (Anovulation) |
| The failure to ovulate. |
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| Ovum |
| The egg; the reproductive cell from the ovary; the female gamete; the sex cell that contains the woman's genetic information. |
