Medical terms in surrogacy and egg donation should be understood as clinic-owned decisions. This glossary can help you follow the conversation, but the fertility clinic and treating clinicians decide testing, medications, monitoring, clearance, transfer, retrieval, pregnancy care, and urgent symptoms.
Medical screening: Review of health history, records, labs, exams, and clinic-specific requirements.
Infectious-disease testing: Testing used to evaluate communicable-disease risks before donation or treatment.
Ovarian stimulation: Medication used to stimulate the ovaries during an egg donation or IVF cycle.
OHSS: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a potential complication of ovarian stimulation.
Embryo transfer: The procedure where an embryo is placed into the uterus.
Medical screening
Review of health history, records, labs, exams, and clinic-specific requirements. Screening can apply to surrogates, donors, intended parents, and genetic contributors.
Infectious-disease testing
Testing used to evaluate communicable-disease risks. FDA donor-testing requirements may apply to certain reproductive tissue donors. Clinics may also have their own testing protocols.
Genetic screening
Testing or counseling used to identify genetic risks. Donor and intended-parent plans may require genetic review before embryos are created or transferred.
Ovarian stimulation
Medication used to stimulate the ovaries during an egg donation or IVF cycle. The clinic monitors response with bloodwork and ultrasound.
Trigger shot
A medication timed before egg retrieval to prepare eggs for retrieval. Timing is important and should follow clinic instructions exactly.
OHSS
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a potential complication of ovarian stimulation. ASRM publishes guidance on prevention and treatment of moderate and severe OHSS. Donors should know symptoms and who to call after retrieval.
Egg retrieval
The outpatient procedure used to retrieve eggs after stimulation. Recovery instructions, activity limits, and follow-up belong to the clinic.
Embryo transfer
The procedure where an embryo is placed into the uterus. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate is not the egg source for the embryo.
Beta hCG
A blood test used after transfer to check for pregnancy hormone. A positive beta is not the same as completing pregnancy; the clinic may repeat testing and ultrasound.
Ultrasound monitoring
Imaging used during stimulation, early pregnancy, or pregnancy care. The meaning of each ultrasound depends on timing and clinical context.
OB handoff
The transition from fertility-clinic monitoring to obstetric care. Ask when the handoff happens, who answers urgent questions, and what records transfer.
Why terms need clinic context
The same term can mean different timing in different protocols. Do not rely on a glossary to decide whether a symptom is urgent, whether medication should change, or whether an appointment can be skipped. Ask the clinic.
When to call the clinic
Ask the clinic which symptoms require an urgent call, which symptoms require emergency care, and which questions can wait for business hours. Donors should know post-retrieval warning signs. Surrogates should know who answers transfer, early pregnancy, and OB-handoff questions. If instructions are unclear, ask for the written after-hours plan before the calendar becomes time-sensitive.
Also ask who updates the medication calendar if labs or ultrasound results change. Do not adjust timing based on a glossary term or another person's prior cycle.
When in doubt, use the clinic's written instructions as the source of truth for timing, dosing, and escalation.
Next steps
This glossary is educational information only and is not medical advice. Follow the fertility clinic, OB, or treating clinician's instructions for your specific plan.