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Maturation Arrest - A testicular condition in which at one stage of sperm production all sperm development halts throughout all testicular tubules. May result in oligospermia or azozoospermia.

MC - See miscarriage

Meiosis - The cell division, peculiar to reproductive cells, which allows genetic material to divide in half. Each new cell will contain twenty-three chromosomes. The spermatids (immature sperm) and ova (eggs) each contain twenty-three chromo-somes, so when they combine (fertilize), the baby will have a normal complement of forty-six.

Menarche - The time when a woman first menstruates.

Menopause - The time a woman stops menstruating.

Menorrhagia - Heavy or prolonged menstrual flow.

MESA - See Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration.

Metrodin (Pure FSH) - An injectable form of Follicle Stimulating Hormone used to stimulate ovulation.

Metrorrhagia - Menstrual spotting during the middle of the cycle.

Micro Injection Fallopian Transfer - A technique similar to GIFT that may be used in lieu of in vitro fertilization for women with patent (clear and open) tubes. After egg retrieval the eggs are mixed with sperm and then immediately injected through into the woman's fallopian tubes for in vivo fertilization. Rather than using laparoscopy, this method uses need aspiration of follicles and injection into the follopian tubes.

Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration - Using microsurgery to remove sperm from the epididymis for use in in vitro fertilization, often with ICSI.

MIFT - See Micro Injection Fallopian Transfer

Miscarriage - Spontaneous loss of an embryo or fetus from the womb. See Abortion.

Missed Abortion/Missed Miscarriage - The fetus dies in the uterus but there is no bleeding or cramping. A D&C will be needed to remove the fetal remains and prevent complications. See Abortion.

Mitosis - The division of a cell into two identical cells in which all forty-six human chromosomes are duplicated; the first division of the germ cell.

Morphology - The shape of sperm as studied in a semen analysis.

Motility - The measurement of motion and forward progression of sperm in a semen analysis.

Mucus - Secretions from a gland that can be water, gel-like, stretchy, sticky or dry. Fertile mucus resembles raw egg whites (watery and stretchy).

Mutagen - Substance that alters the genetic structure of the sperm or egg before conception.

Mycoplasma - An infectious agent that falls structurally between a virus and a bacterium. Thought to be related to pregnancy loss and perhaps infertility as well. See Ureaplasma.

Myomectomy - Surgical removal of a uterine fibroid.

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