The 'Ologies' of medicine

As health professionals, we are working in this world every day, so we’ve learned to speak the language! It can be easy to forget that to our patients and the community, the words we use can be foreign and confusing. We have previously shared with you a list of fertility acronyms, but in this blog we wanted to take the time to explain a few more scientific terms.

The Study of Fertility and Reproduction

-ology (in our context) is a suffix used at the end of a word to indicate the scientific study of a particular subject.
Here’s a few you may come across, and what they mean:

Gynaecology              

This is the area of medicine that addresses functions and diseases specific to women and female reproduction. Your Genea Fertility Specialist is trained in gynaecology as a minimum. Many of our specialists have also undertaken further comprehensive subspecialty studies.

Urology 

Urology is the area of medicine that addresses functions and diseases specific to the urinary system (in both males and females) and also male reproduction. Your Fertility Specialist may also be trained in urology; or a specialist Urologist may be involved in your fertility treatment if you require surgical intervention to obtain a sperm sample.

Andrology 

Andrology is the area of medicine and biology that addresses functions and diseases specific to men and male reproduction. We use this term to describe the laboratory examination of samples of sperm or semen, in order to determine the cause and/or the course of male reproductive difficulties. If you’ve had a sperm test, then you’ve utilised the Andrology department.

Embryology

This is the area of biology that deals with the development of embryos. In a fertility clinic, this is where embryos are created, observed and nurtured, frozen for future use and prepared for transfer to a patient.

Pathology/Endocrinology

This refers to the laboratory examination of samples of blood or body tissue, in order to determine the cause and/or course of diseases. Endocrinology specifically deals with hormone levels, usually in blood samples. The blood tests you have during a fertility treatment cycle are processed in an endocrinology (or pathology) laboratory.

Sonology (Sonography)

This is the area of medicine that uses ultrasound to examine internal organs. The follicle tracking scans or ultrasounds you have during a fertility treatment cycle are conducted by staff trained in sonography.


Disclaimer: Please note that this is a Genea Group blog and as such information may not be relevant for all clinics. We advise that you consult clinics directly for further information.