| 2WW |
Two Week Wait |
The period of time between fertility treatment and a pregnancy test |
| A |
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection |
|
| AF |
Aunt Flo |
An innocent sounding way to refer to a menstrual period |
| AI |
Artificial Insemination |
A procedure to inject semen to the vagina or uterus |
| ART |
Assisted Reproductive Technology |
A blanket term to cover all medically assisted reproductive method |
| ASAB |
Antisperm Antibodies |
Sperm fighting antibodies made by the immune system that damage or kill sperm |
| BA |
Baby Aspirin |
Low dose aspirin that can help with thinning blood and reducing inflammation |
| Babydust |
Best Wishes |
Cute way of wishing that someone gets pregnant |
| BBT |
Basel Body Temperature |
your body's temperature when it is fully at rest. It is a way to chart your ovulation and possible pregnancy |
| BCP |
Birth Control Pill |
Part of my IVF cycles to control your cycle and prepare your body for IVF |
| BD |
Baby Dance |
Sexual intercourse with the aim of getting pregnant |
| BETA |
Quantitative Serial Beta-hCG Test |
Blood test the measures the pregnancy hormone offering proof of pregnancy |
| BFN |
Big Fat Negative |
A negative pregnancy test |
| BFP |
Big Fat Positive |
A positive pregnancy test |
| Blast |
Blastocyst |
A fully developed embryo, usually day 5 |
| BW |
Blood Work |
A big part of fertility treatment |
| C# |
Cycle Number |
A way of keeping track of how many cycles of fertility treatment |
| CM |
Cervical Mucus |
Fluid produced by the cervix that can give clues about your fertility at any given time |
| CP |
Cervical Positioning |
The position and texture of the cervix that changes during your cycle |
| D&C |
Dilation & Curettage |
Removal of a fetus e.g. due to missed miscarriage |
| DD |
Dear Daughter |
|
| DH |
Dear Husband |
|
| DPO |
Days Post Ovulation |
|
| DPR |
Days Post Retrieval |
|
| DPT |
Days Post Transfer |
|
| DS |
Dear Son |
|
| DW |
Dear Wife |
|
| DX |
Diagnosis |
|
| E2 |
Estradiol |
also spelled oestradiol, is an estrogen steroid hormone and the major female sex hormone |
| EDD |
Estimated Due Date |
|
| Embies |
Embryos |
Fertilized eggs |
| Endo |
Endometriosis |
disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus, the endometrium, grows outside the uterus |
| EPO |
Evening Primrose Oil |
a supplement which may help with maintaining hormone balance |
| EPT |
Early Pregnancy Test |
|
| ER |
Egg Retrieval |
Surgical removal of eggs during an IVF cycle |
| ET |
Embryo Transfer |
The final stage of and IVF when the fertilized eggs are placed into the uterus |
| EWCM |
Egg White Cervical Mucus |
fertile cervical mucus during maximum fertility and that is stretchy like raw egg |
| FET |
Frozen Embryo Transfer |
|
| FF |
Fertility Friend |
Someone going through fertility treatment at the same time you are |
| FHR |
Fetal Heart Rate |
|
| FP |
Follicular Phase |
The first part of the menstrual cycle in which the follicles in the ovary mature and it ends with ovulation |
| FSH |
Follicle Stimulating Hormone |
Stimulates the ovaries to create follicles. The synthetic version (Gonal F) is injected daily up until ovulation |
| Follies |
Follicles |
The fluid filled sacs in your ovaries where your eggs grow |
| Frosties |
Frozen Embryos |
|
| GIFT |
Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer |
A tool of assisted reproductive technology in which eggs are removed from a woman's ovaries, and placed in one of the Fallopian tubes, along with the man's sperm. |
| GNRH |
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone |
Also known as Luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) (responsible for the release of FSH and LH) |
| GP |
General Practitioner |
|
| HCG |
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin |
The hormone produced by the placenta after implantation. The presence of hCG is what most pregnancy tests look for. |
| HPT |
Home Pregnancy Test |
|
| HSC |
Hysteroscopy |
A test that looks at the uterus to see if it has a normal shape and size. It can also detect fibroids, polyps, or scar tissue. |
| HX |
Medical History |
Usually a personal fertility history |
| ICI |
Intracervical Insemination |
Similar to an IUI but the sperm is placed near the cervix instead of in the uterus. |
| ICSI |
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection |
A procedure in which an individual sperm is injected directly into an egg. |
| IF |
Infertility |
|
| IME |
In My Experience |
|
| IMO |
In My Opinion |
|
| IUI |
Intrauterine Insemination |
A procedure in which sperm is placed directly into the uterus in the hopes of achieving a pregnancy |
| IVF |
In Vitro Fertilization |
|
| LAP |
Laparoscopy |
a surgical procedure in which a fiber-optic instrument is inserted through the abdominal wall to view the organs in the abdomen |
| LH |
Luteinizing Hormone |
A hormone that triggers ovulation |
| LMP |
Last Menstrual Period |
The first day of your last period |
| MC |
Miscarriage |
|
| MF |
Male Factor |
When the infertility issue is with the male partner |
| M/S, MS |
Morning Sickness |
|
| Mourla |
Very early stage of an embryo (~3-4 days past fertilization) before blastocyst |
|
| NK |
Natural Killer Cells |
An immune response which may be responsible for IVF failure and miscarriage |
| O, OV |
Ovulation |
|
| OB |
Obstruction |
A doctor who concentrates on pregnancy and childbirth |
| OB/GYN |
Obstetrician/Gynecologist |
A doctor who concentrates on women's reproductive health, pregnancy, and childbirth |
| OC |
Oral Contraception |
|
| OD |
Ovulatory Disorder |
|
| OHSS |
Ovarian Hyper stimulation Syndrome |
A condition in which the ovaries can become swollen and painful after fertility treatment. An embryo transfer may be cancelled if the condition is severe. |
| OPK |
Ovulation Predictor Kit |
|
| OPT |
Ovulation Predictor Test |
|
| OTC |
Over The Counter |
|
| PCP |
Primary Care Physician |
Usually an Internist or Family Doctor |
| PG |
Pregnant |
|
| PI |
Primary Infertility |
Refers to couples who have not become pregnant for the first time after 1 year of trying |
| PID |
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease |
An infection caused when bacteria from the vagina or cervix travel to the womb, fallopian tubes, or ovaries |
| PNV |
Pre Natal Vitamins |
|
| POAS |
Pee on a Stick |
Refers to taking a home pregnancy or ovulation test |
| PUPO |
Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise |
A positive affirmation during the Two Week Wait |
| RE |
Reproductive Endocrinologist |
Fertility doctor |
| RPL |
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss |
|
| Rx |
Prescription |
|
| SA |
Semen Analysis |
|
| SHG |
Sonohysterogram |
A test in which saline is injected into the cavity of the uterus in order to examine it for shape and abnormalities |
| SI |
Secondary Infertility |
The inability to become pregnant or to carry a baby to term after previously giving birth to a baby |
| SIS |
Saline Injection Sonogram |
Another term for SHG, above |
| SMEP |
Sperm Meets Egg Plan |
A plan to get pregnant by using ovulation awareness and times intercourse |
| SP |
Significant Other |
|
| STD |
Sexually Transmitted Disease |
|
| TORCH |
Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes test |
|
| TTC |
Trying To Conceive |
|
| TX |
Treatment |
|
| UR |
Urologist |
A doctor who focuses on male reproductive organs |
| US, U/S |
Ultrasound |
|
| UTI |
Urinary Tract Infection |
|
| V |
Vasectomy |
|
| VR, V/R |
Vasectomy Reversal |
|
| WBC |
White Blood Cells |
|
| ZIFT |
Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer |
A procedure in which a fertilized embryo is transferred into the fallopian tube instead of the uterus |
