IVF & Fertility Treatment Glossary

The terms US patients actually encounter \u2014 procedures, lab techniques, outcome metrics, and insurance mechanics. Cross-linked from the rest of the US section.

Procedures

In Vitro Fertilization(IVF): A process of egg retrieval from the ovaries, fertilization in a laboratory dish, and transfer of a resulting embryo back to the uterus.; The CDC ART definition of "cycle" begins at controlled ovarian stimulation, not at transfer.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection(ICSI): A laboratory technique where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg to achieve fertilization. Used for severe male factor infertility, prior fertilization failure, or with frozen eggs.; CDC reports the percentage of US transfers using ICSI per clinic — usage varies from <30% to >90% depending on patient mix.
Intrauterine Insemination(IUI): Placement of prepared sperm directly into the uterus around ovulation. Less invasive and lower cost than IVF; often the first-line treatment for unexplained infertility or mild male factor.
In Vitro Maturation(IVM): Eggs are retrieved before they have fully matured in the ovary, then matured in the lab. Used in patients at high OHSS risk (e.g. PCOS) or for fertility preservation when stimulation must be avoided.
Frozen Embryo Transfer(FET): Transfer of an embryo that was previously frozen, in a separate cycle from the original retrieval. Allows uterine lining preparation independent of stimulation.; Most US transfers in 2022 were FET — over half of CDC-reporting clinics used frozen embryos for >90% of transfers.

Laboratory & embryology

Preimplantation Genetic Testing(PGT): Biopsy of cells from a developing embryo to test for chromosomal abnormalities (PGT-A), specific genetic disorders (PGT-M), or structural rearrangements (PGT-SR) before transfer.; Over 270 US clinics now use PGT on the majority of embryos transferred. PGT typically adds $3,000–$5,000 to a cycle.
Blastocyst: An embryo that has developed for 5–6 days after fertilization, with around 100–200 cells. Most modern transfers are blastocysts because survival to day 5 itself selects for higher-quality embryos.
Embryo Banking: Performing multiple egg retrievals and freezing all resulting embryos before any are transferred. Used in DOR (more retrievals improve odds of finding a viable embryo) and PGT-heavy protocols.
Vitrification: A flash-freezing technique that prevents ice crystal formation in eggs and embryos. Largely replaced slow freezing in modern labs and dramatically improved frozen-cycle outcomes.

Outcome metrics

Live Birth Rate(LBR): The proportion of treatment events resulting in a live birth. CDC reports LBR per intended retrieval (own eggs) and per transfer (donor eggs). Per-intended-retrieval is more clinically meaningful.
Cumulative Live Birth Rate: LBR that follows a patient through all transfers from a single egg retrieval, including any frozen transfers. The metric used in the patient-facing CDC clinic comparison tool.
Cancellation Rate: The percentage of started cycles that don’t reach egg retrieval (typically due to poor response to stimulation). Higher in DOR and older patients.

Insurance & coverage

IVF Insurance Mandate: A state law requiring health insurance plans sold in that state to cover IVF or other fertility services. Mandates vary widely — from "must offer" to full IVF cycle coverage.; 26 of 51 US jurisdictions (50 states + DC) have any IVF mandate; only 6 have what we classify as a "full" mandate.
ERISA(Employee Retirement Income Security Act): A federal law that exempts self-insured employer health plans from state insurance regulation — including state IVF mandates.; Roughly 60% of US workers with employer coverage are in self-insured plans. They are not protected by their state’s IVF mandate, even if their state has one.
Self-Insured Plan: An employer health plan where the employer pays claims directly rather than purchasing insurance from an insurer. Subject to ERISA, which exempts it from state IVF mandates.
Fully-Insured Plan: An employer health plan where the employer pays premiums to an insurance company that takes on the claims risk. Subject to state insurance regulation, including IVF mandates.
Fertility Benefit Provider: A third-party benefits manager (Progyny, Carrot, Maven, WINFertility) that administers fertility care as an employer benefit, typically with a defined cycle or dollar allocation.

Pricing

Cycle Cost: The base cost of one IVF retrieval cycle including monitoring, retrieval, fertilization, and a single fresh transfer. US national benchmark: ~$20,000. Excludes medication.
Medication Cost: Cost of stimulation medications (gonadotropins) for one cycle. US typical range: $3,000–$8,000 depending on protocol and dosing.
Add-On: Procedures billed separately from the base cycle: ICSI, PGT, embryo cryopreservation, assisted hatching, ERA testing. Typical add: $500–$5,000 each.
Cost per Live Birth: Total expected spend to achieve one live birth, computed as cycle cost × expected number of cycles. The most clinically meaningful price comparison metric.