Glossary

Short title: Assisted Human Reproduction Act. Legal title: An Act respecting assisted human reproduction

The use of any new reproductive technology for the purpose of overcoming infertility to produce a child (e.g., in vitro fertilization, assisted insemination, donor insemination, etc.). (Source: Library of Parliament: “Regulating Reproductive Technologies Internationally”)

The preservation of seeds, semen, embryos, or micro-organisms at extremely low temperatures. (Source: Termium Plus) 

Where the courts finds on the balance of probabilities that the person is the parent of a child … the court may make a declaratory order to that effect. (Source: Termium online)  The legislative source of this judicial power is the Children's Law Reform Act.

Donor agreements can be for gametes (sperm and egg donation) and for embryos.  

The process of inserting donor sperm into a woman’s vagina or uterus by means other than sexual intercourse, to achieve pregnancy. (Source: Library of Parliament: “Regulating Reproductive Technologies Internationally”)

(1) The contribution, by a third party, of female gametes for the purpose of assisted reproduction. (Source: Termium Plus). (2) the donation of one woman’s egg(s) to another woman. Eggs are usually removed from the ovary after the use of fertility drugs. An egg donor could be a health volunteer or a woman undergoing sterilization, hysterectomy or egg retrieval for her own reproductions. The egg donor is the genetic mother of any resulting child but she is not the woman who gives birth. (Source: Library of Parliament: “Regulating Reproductive Technologies Internationally”)

The developing structure from fertilization of the egg until about eight weeks of gestation. Traditionally the embryonic stage of development begins when the structure becomes implanted in the uterus. (Source: Library of Parliament: “Regulating Reproductive Technologies Internationally”)

The contribution, by a third party, of fertilized eggs for the purpose of assisted reproduction. The source of the embryos is usually couples who have completed IVF and are in possession of surplus cryopreserved embryos

(1) A pharmacologic agent, such as clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin, used to induce ovulation in an ovulatory women in an effort to promote conception. (Source: Termium Plus). (2) compound used to treat ovulatory dysfunction or to stimulate multiple ovulation, as in IVF. (Source: Library of Parliament: “Regulating Reproductive Technologies Internationally”)

The developing human from about eight weeks after conception to birth. (Source: Library of Parliament: “Regulating Reproductive Technologies Internationally”)

A mature male or female reproductive cell. (Source: Termium Online)

Use of tests to acquire genetic information about those who are at increased risk for having an inherited trait or disease. (Source: Library of Parliament: “Regulating Reproductive Technologies Internationally”)

See "Surrogacy" below.

Intended parents are parties to a donor agreement or a surrogacy agreement, and generally are the ones retaining a lawyer to draft the agreement.  They are seeking the assistance of a donor or surrogate (or both), in order to become the legal parents of any child that results from the donation and/or surrogacy.

(1) an assisted reproduction technique in which the fertilization of an egg by a sperm occurs outside the woman’s body. (Source: Termium Plus); (2) mature eggs are removed from a woman’s ovary and fertilized with sperm. After fertilization and incubation, the fertilized egg is placed in the woman’s uterus. The embryo may also be transferred to another woman. (Source: Library of Parliament: “Regulating Reproductive Technologies Internationally”)

In vitro fertilization where a woman recipient utilizes oocytes (eggs) provided by a woman donor for in vitro fertilization with the subsequent transfer of embryos to the recipient.(Source: Termium Plus)

The relationship of a parent to a certain child; includes maternity and paternity. (Source: Termium online)

Diagnosis of genetic disorders or fetal sex in an embryo formed through IVF before it is transferred to the uterus.

Testing before birth to determine whether a fetus has a malformation or disorder; the sex of the fetus can also be determined. (Source: Library of Parliament: “Regulating Reproductive Technologies Internationally”)

Technique or procedure used to overcome infertility (Source: Library of Parliament: “Regulating Reproductive Technologies Internationally”)

The contribution, by a third party, of male reproductive cells for the purpose of assisted reproduction. (Source: Termium Plus). See also: donor insemination.

Undifferentiated biological cells, that can differentiate into specialized cells and can divide (through mitosis) to produce more stem cells.

Registering your child’s birth is the first step to giving your baby a legal identity. Once your baby’s birth is registered, you will be able to apply for a birth certificate. You will receive a form called a Statement of Live Birth from the hospital for you to fill out. It is your child’s permanent record. (Source: Termium Plus)

The process resulting from a woman agreeing to carry a child for another person (or couple), with the intention of surrendering the child at birth. There are two types of surrogacy: genetic (the surrogate is genetically related to the child) and gestational (the surrogate carries the foetus but is not genetically related to it). (Source: Termium Plus).