Glossary Terms
Ileostomy
An ileostomy is a surgical procedure that involves cutting the small intestine and connecting it to an opening on the outside of the abdomen. This procedure allows feces to leave the body through the opening instead of through the anus.
Indelible ink
Ink that cannot be erased or washed away.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
A robotic microscope is used to inject one sperm into an immature female egg (oocyte) in order to produce an embryo, a fertilized egg.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
A very thin, flexible catheter is threaded through the cervix and a purified liquid, containing sperm cells, is injected directly into the woman's uterus. This procedure only lasts for a few minutes and is used to make conception easier.
In vitro fertilization (IVF)
A woman takes hormones to ripen multiple eggs in her ovaries, which are then taken out with a needle placed through the top of the vagina. In a laboratory, the eggs and sperm are combined to create embryos. These embryos will then be transferred back into the woman's uterus.
Irrigation
Irrigation is adding water to flush an area such as the bowel. This stimulates a bowel movement, similar to an enema.
