The infertility world has such wacky acronyms! Especially if you are new to TTC (that's "trying to conceive") all the infertility lingo can mind boggling. This is especially true if you read lot of infertility blogs and boards. Here's a list of commonly used acronyms. I will add to this as needed in the future.
2ww ~ Two week wait (the time between ovulation and period)
AF ~ Aunt Flo, period, menstruation (most dreaded in the IF world!)
ALI ~ Adoption, Loss, Infertility
ART ~ Assisted Reproductive Technology
BD ~ Baby Dancing/Bedroom Dancing (having sex)
Beta ~ Blood test for pregnancy
BFN ~ Big Fat Negative (pregnancy test)
BFP ~ Big Fat Positive (pregnancy test)
BIL ~ Brother-In-Law
BMS ~ Baby Making Sex
B/W ~ Bloodwork
CD ~ Cycle Day (day of your menstruation cycle)
CM ~ Cerival Mucus
DH ~ Dear Husband
DPO ~ Days Past Ovulation
E2 ~ Estradiol - a female hormone that is tested to monitor the ovaries' response to stimulation
ENDO ~ Endometriosis - condition where tissue that lines the uterus or womb grows outside the uterus on other organs or structures of the body.
ER ~ Egg Retrieval - process to remove eggs from the ovaries for IVF.
ET ~ Embryo Transfer - process of transferring embryo(s) back to the uterus during IVF.
FET ~ Frozen Embryo Transfer - process of transferring a previously frozen embryo back to the uterus.
FIL ~ Father-In-Law
FSH ~ Follicle Stimulating Hormone - responsible for stimulating the growth and development of eggs in women, and sperm cells in men.
hCG ~ Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (detected in home pregnancy tests) - hormone that supports pregnancy.
HPT ~ Home Pregnancy Test
HSG ~ Hysterosalpingogram (x-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes)
IF ~ Infertility
ICSI ~ Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (injection of single sperm into egg)
IM ~ Intramuscular, injection directly into muscle
IRL ~ In Real Life
IUI ~ Intrauterine Insemination
IVF ~ In Vitro Fertilization - procedure where eggs are surgically removed from the ovary and fertilized outside the body. The fertilized eggs are then placed back in the uterus.
KMFC or KMCX ~ Keeping My Fingers Crossed.
KU ~ Knocked Up
Lap ~
Laparoscopy - minimal invasive surgery using very small incision so a laparoscope can be used to view the inside of the abdominal cavity.
LP ~ Luteal Phase - second half of the menstrual cycle after ovulation
M/C ~ Miscarriage
MFI ~ Male Factor Infertility
MIL ~ Mother-In-Law
O or OV ~ Ovulate or Ovulation
OHSS ~ Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
OPK ~ Ovulation Predictor Kit - kits used at home to help predict ovulation.
P4 ~
Progesterone - hormone that supports pregnancy.
PIO ~ Progesterone In Oil
PMS ~ Pre-menstrual Syndrome
POAS ~ Pee On a Stick (to take a pregnancy test)
PCOS ~ Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - Hormonal disorder. Enlarge ovaries containing numerous small and painless cycsts.
PG ~ Pregnant, pregnancy
RE ~ Reproductive Endocrinologist (fertility specialist)
SA ~ Semen Analysis
SHG or
SIS~ Saline Infused Sonohysterography (saline infused ultrasound of the uterus)
SIL ~ Sister-in-Law
Stims ~ Follicle Stimulation drugs
SubQ ~ Subcutaneous (under the skin) injection
TCM ~ Traditional Chinese Medicine
TTC ~ Trying to Conceive
U/S ~ Ultrasound
