Fertility (redirected from fertile)

fertility: see infertility.

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fertility

Ability of an individual or couple to reproduce through normal sexual activity. About 80% of healthy, fertile women are able to conceive within one year if they have intercourse regularly without contraception. Normal fertility requires the production of enough healthy sperm by the male and viable eggs by the female, successful passage of the sperm through open ducts from the male testes to the female fallopian tubes, penetration of a healthy egg, and implantation of the fertilized egg in the lining of the uterus (see reproductive system). A problem with any of these steps can cause infertility.

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Fertility

See also Abundance.

antler dance

archaic animal dance, preceding mating. [Br. Folklore: Brewer Dictionary, 1]

Anu

Irish goddess of fecundity. [Irish Folklore: Briggs, 9]

Aphrodite

goddess of fecundity. [Gk. Myth.: Parrinder, 24]

Astarte

goddess of fecundity. [Phoenician Myth.: Jobes, 144]

Astarte’s dove

emblem of fecundity. [Phoenician Myth.: Jobes, 466]

Atargatis’ dove

emblem of fecundity. [Hittite Myth.: Jobes, 466]

Athena

Athens’ patroness; goddess of war and fecundity. [Gk. Myth.: Parrinder, 33; Kravitz, 40]

Baal

chief male god of Phoenicians; the generative principle. [Phoenician Rel.: Parrinder, 38]

Bacchus’ cup

symbolizes fecundity. [Gk. Myth.: Jobes, 397]

Bona Dea

goddess of fertility; counterpart of Faunus. [Rom. Myth.: Zimmerman, 43]

breast

symbol of nourishment and fecundity. [Ren. Art: Hall, 52]

Cernunnos

horned deity of fecundity, associated with snakes. [Celtic Myth.: Parrinder, 58]

Cerridwen

nature goddess whose magical cauldron was misused. [Celtic Myth.: Parrinder, 58]

Chloë

beloved maiden, goddess of new, green crops. [Gk. Myth.: Parrinder, 62]

Clothru

Irish goddess of fertility. [Irish Myth.: Jobes, 349]

clover

symbolizes fecundity. [Folklore: Jobes, 350]

coconut

presented to women who want to be mothers. [Ind. Folklore: Binder, 85]

Cybele

nature’s fruitfulness assured by orgiastic rites honoring her. [Phrygian Myth.: Parrinder, 68; Jobes, 400]

Dôn

goddess of fecundity; Welsh equivalent of Irish Danu. [Brythonic Myth.: Leach, 321; Jobes, 461]

Dag

(h)da god of abundance, war, healing. [Celtic Myth.: Parrinder, 68; Jobes, 405]

Dagon

(Dāgan) fish-corn god symbolizing fecundity and abundance. [Babyl. Myth.: Parrinder, 71; Jobes, 405]

Demeter

goddess of fecundity. [Gk. Myth.: Jobes, 429–430]

double ax

emblem of fecundity. [Folklore: Jobes, 163]

figs, garland of

a traditional pictorial identification of Pan, pastoral god of fertility. [Gk. Myth.: Jobes, 373]

fish

signifies fecundity. [Mexican Folklore: Binder, 17]

flowers and fruit, garland of

traditional headdress of Pomona, goddess of fertility. [Rom. Myth.: Jobes, 373]

flowers, garland of

traditional pictorial identification of Flora, goddess of flowers and fertility. [Rom. Myth.: Jobes, 373]

Freya

goddess of agriculture, peace, and plenty. [Norse Myth.: Payton, 257]

grape leaves, garland of

traditional headdress of Bona Dea, goddess of fertility. [Rom. Myth.: Jobes, 373]

green

symbol of fruitfulness. [Color Symbolism: Jobes, 356]

horn

believed to promote fertility. [Art: Hall, 157]

horse

symbolizes fecundity. [Bengali Folklore: Binder, 67]

Lavransdatter, Kristin

gives birth to eight sons in ten years. [Nor. Lit.: Kristin Lavransdatter, Magill I, 483–486]

Mylitta

goddess of fertility. [Babyl. Myth.: Leach, 776]

old woman who lived in a shoe

what to do with so many children? [Nurs. Rhyme: Opie, 434]

Ops

Sabine goddess of fecundity. [Rom. Myth.: Brewer Dictionary, 782]

orange blossoms

symbolic of bride’s hope for fruitfulness. [Br. and Fr. Tradition: Brewer Dictionary, 784]

Pomona

goddess of gardens and fruit trees. [Rom. Myth.: Zimmerman, 218]

pomegranate

indicates abundance. [Heraldry: Halberts, 36]

rabbit

symbol of fecundity. [Animal Symbolism: Mercatante, 125–126]

Rhea

worshiped orgy and fertility; mother of Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Hades, Demeter, and Hestia. [Gk. Myth.: NCE, 1796]

rhinoceros horn

in powdered form, considered powerful fertility agent. [Eastern Culture: Misc.]

waxing moon

only effective time for sowing seeds. [Gardening Lore: Boland, 31]

yellow

color of fecundity, relating to yellow sun and earth. [Eastern Color Symbolism: Binder, 78]