Infertility acronyms can be overwhelming to someone just starting their fertility journey

Are you just beginning your fertility treatment journey and feeling a little confused and overwhelmed by all the infertility acronyms and medical information? What the heck does TTC and 2WW stand for? And what’s the difference between HcG and HSG? All of the acronyms and foreign words are enough to make anyone’s head spin!

Infertility speak can sound a lot like a foreign language and can be quite intimidating when you first step into the infertility world.  For instance, here’s a typical post on an infertility chat board full of those vexing infertility acronyms:

Hey FFs! I’m going to try charting my BBT, along with using OPK test strips this cycle. For those of you who are pros, when do I start? Today is CD1, and AF should end on Saturday. I ordered some OPKs, HPTs and a thermometer this morning, and should get them by Friday. I also didn’t accurately use the OPKs last month, and was never able to figure out my O. I have been TTC for over 2 years, Dx with PCOS and IR by my OB and I just made an appt to see an RE. Oh and to make matters even worse, my DH has LSP. I would do anything to see a BFP after I POAS. Any suggestions are welcome and helpful! FTTA!

Wow, what did she just say? Don’t worry, because you’re not alone on this one! It can take a while to decipher all the acronyms and lingo in the blogs, chat boards and articles you may be reading online from the infertility community and what you are hearing from friends going through the same experiences. To help you get more out of the conversations you’re having with others, we’ve gathered some of the more common acronyms to help you survive. For an even more comprehensive list, head over to Resolve’s website.

Common Infertility Acronyms:

• 2WW:  Two week wait
• AF:  Aunt Flo, After Flo, Period, or Menstrual Cycle
• ART:  Assisted reproductive technology (e.g., in vitro fertilization)
• BBT:  Basal Body Temperature
• BCP:  Birth Control Pills
• BD:  Baby Dance (sex)
• Beta:  HcG pregnancy test
• BFN:  Big Fat Negative
• BFP:  Big Fat Positive
• CB:  Cycle Buddy
• CD:  Cycle Day
• DE:  Donor Eggs
• DH:  Dear Husband
• DI:  Donor Husband
• DOR:  Diminished Ovarian Reserve
• DPO:  Days Post-Ovulation
• DPR:  Days Post-Retrieval
• DPT:  Days Post-Transfer
• DW:  Dear Wife
• Dx:  Diagnosis
• ENDO:  Endometriosis
• EPT:  Early Pregnancy Test
• ER:  Egg Retrieval
• ET:  Embryo Transfer
• FET:  Frozen Embryo Transfer
• FF:  Fertility Friend
• FHR:  Fetal Heart Rate
• Frostie:  Frozen Embryo
• FSH:  Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
• FTTA:  Fertile Thoughts to All
• HcG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hormone detected by pregnancy tests)
• HPT:  Home Pregnancy Test
• HSG:  Hysterosalpingogram
• HX:  History
• ICSI:  Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
• IF:  Infertility
• IR:  Insulin Resistant
• IVF:  In Vitro Fertilization
• IUI:  Intrauterine Insemination
• LAP:  Laparoscopy
• LH:  Luteinizing Hormone
• LMP:  Last Menstrual Period (start date)
• LSP:  Low Sperm Count
• MAI:  Miscarriage After Infertility
• MC, m/c, misc.:  Miscarriage
• MF:  Male factor
• O, OV:  Ovulation
• OB, OB/GYN:  Obstetrician/Gynecologist
• OC:  Oral Contraceptives
• OPK/OPT:  Ovulation Predictor Kit, Ovulation Predictor Test
• OTC:  Over the Counter
• PCOS:  Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
• PG:  Pregnant
• PGD/PGS/PGT:  Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis, Pre-implantation Genetic Screening, Pre-implantation Genetic Testing
• PI:  Primary Infertility
• PIO: Progesterone in Oil injection
• PID:  Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
• POAS:  Pee on a Stick
• POF:  Premature Ovarian Failure
• POI: Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
• PUPO: Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise
• RE/REI:  Reproductive Endocrinologist
• RPL:  Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
• SA:  Semen Analysis
• SART:  Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology
• SI:  Secondary Infertility
• STD:  Sexually Transmitted Disease
• TL/TR:  Tubal Ligation, Tubal Reversal
• TTC:  Trying To Conceive
• TTCAR:  Trying to Conceive After Reversal
• TWW: Two week wait
• TX:  Treatment
• US:  Ultrasound
• V/VR:  Vasectomy, Vasectomy Reversal

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