As you go deeper into your TTC journey and search online for answers and support, there will seem to be an endless amount of confusing fertility realted acronyms and abbreviations that can make it hard to understand what’s being said.

The last thing anyone wants is to have these terms add more struggle as you seek to find answers and communicate in online fertility groups. It’s easy to be overwhelmed and feel like you have to learn a new code. Yes, the language of abbreviations can be confusing!

Here’s a guide for you to use to better understand all the new acronyms and abbreviations that you’ll see in the online fertility communities.

Fertility Acronyms and Abbreviations List:

2WW= Two-week wait (luteal phase the time from ovulation until you can take a pregnancy test)

AF= Aunt Flo (your period / menses)
AH, AZH =  Assisted Hatching
AI = Artificial Insemination
AID = Artificial Insemination from Donor
AIH = Artificial Insemination from Husband
AMH (anti-mullerian hormone – a test that indicates antral reserve)
APTT = Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time
ART = Assisted Reproductive Technology
AWOL = A Woman On Lupron

BA = Baby Aspirin
BB = Bulletin Board
BBT= Basal Body Temperature
BCP= Birth Control Pills
BD= Baby dance, sex
Beta, beta hCG = Serum Pregnancy Test= qualitative (yes/no) or quantitative (numeric level)
BFN= Big Fat Negative (negative pregnancy test result)
BFP= Big Fat Positive (positive pregnancy test result)
BMS= Baby-making sex
BOB= Baby On the Brain
BW, b/w = Blood work

C# = Cycle Number
CASA = Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis
CB= Cycle Buddy (someone who shares the same menstrual cycle dates)
CD= Cycle day (what day of your cycle you are on)
CF =  Cervical Fluid
CL= Corpus luteum
CM= Cervical mucus
COH = Controlled Ovarian Hyper stimulation
CP= Cervical position
CY = Cycle
CY# = Cycle Number

D&E = Dilation & Evacuation
DB = Discussion Boards – forum discussion boards they are a great for information!
DD = Dear Daughter
DE = Donor Eggs
DES = Diethylstilbestrol (a synthetic estrogen)
DH = Dear Husband
DI = Donor Insemination
DIPI = Direct Intra-Peritoneal Insemination
DOR = Diminished Ovarian Reserve
DOST = Direct Oocyte-Sperm Transfer
DP= Darling Partner, Dear partner, or significant other
DP3DT = Days Post 3-Day Transfer
DP5DT = Days Post 5-Day Transfer
DPIUI= Days Past IUI
DPO= Days past ovulation
DPR = Days Post-Retrieval
DPR = Days Post-Retrieval
DPT = Days Post-Transfer
DS= Darling Son, Dear Son
DTD= Doing the dance, sex, Do the deed
Dx = Diagnosis

E2 = Estradiol (Estrogen)
EBM = Expressed Breastmilk
EC = Egg collection
EC = Embryo Cyro/Freezing
ED = Egg Donor
EDC = Expected Date of Confinement (Due Date)
EDD= Expected Due Date (pregnancy)
ENDO = Endometriosis
EPO = Evening Primrose Oil
EPT = Early Pregnancy Test
ER = Egg Retrieval
ET = Egg transfer
ET = Embryo Transfer
EW = Eggwhite (consistency of fertile cervical mucus)
EWCF = Eggwhite fertile Cervical Fluid
EWCM = Egg White fertile Cervical Mucus

FE = Frozen Embryo
FET = Frozen Embryo Transfer
FHR = Fetal Heart Rate
FHR = Follicle Stimulating Hormone
FM = Fertile Mucus or Fertility Monitor
FMU = First morning urine
FP = Follicular Phase
FRE = First Response Early
FSH= Follicle Stimulating Hormone
FTTA= Fertile thoughts to all
FV = Fertile Vibes

GC = Gestational Carrier
GIFT = Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer
GnRH = Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone
GP = General Practitioner
GS = Gestational Surrogate

HCG = Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HCP = Health Care Practitioner
HMG = Human Menopausal Gonadotropin
HOM = High Order Multiples
HPT = Home Pregnancy Test
HRT = Hormone Replacement Therapy
HSG = Hysterosalpingogram also known as the “dye test” an X-ray test that examines the inside of uterus and fallopian tubes
Hx = History
HYP = hyperstimulation

ICI = Intra-Cervical Insemination
ICSI = Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (often used with IVF)
IF =  Infertility
IF = Intended Father
IM = Intended Mother
IM = Intramuscular (injections)
INF = Infertility
IOR = Immature Oocyte Retrieval
IP’s = Intended Parents
IR = Insulin Resistant
ITI = Intra-tubal Insemination
IUI = Intrauterine Insemination
IVC = Intra-vaginal Culture
IVF = In Vitro Fertilization
IVIg = Intravenous Immunoglobulin

LAC = Licensed Acupuncturist
LAP = Laparoscopy
LH = Luteinizing Hormone
LMP = Last Menstrual Period (start date)
LP =  Luteal phase
LPD = Luteal Phase Defect
LSP = Low Sperm Count
LUF = Luteinized Unruptured Follicle

MC = Miscarriage
MESA = Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration
MF =  Male Factor
MIFT = Micro Injection Fallopian Transfer
MS =  Morning Sickness

NORIF = Non-Stimulated Oocyte Retrieval in (office) Fertilization
NP= Nurse Practitioner
NSA = Non-Surgical Sperm Aspiration

O =  Ovulation
OD = Ovulatory Dysfunction
OHSS = Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
OPK = Ovulation Predictor Kit
OPT = Ovulation Predictor Test
OTD= Official Testing Day (often used inject-able/IVF cycles)
OV = Ovulated
OV = Ovulation

P4 =  Progesterone
PA =  Physician’s Assistant
PA = Pelvic Adhesions
PC =  Post-Coital
PCAP = Polycystic Appearing Ovaries
PCO = Polycystic Ovary Disease
PCO= Poly Cycstic Ovaries (not the same as PCOS)
PCOD = Polycystic Ovary Disease
PCOS (POS)= Polycystic ovarian syndrome
PCOS = Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
PCP =  Primary Care Physician
PCT = Post Coital Test
PESA = Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration
PG = Pregnant
PI = Primary Infertility
PID = Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PIO = Progesterone In Oil
PIP’s = Previous Intended Parents
PMA = positive mental attitude
PMS = Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
PNV = Prenatal Vitamin
POAS =  Pee On A Stick
POC = Products of Conception
POF = Premature Ovarian Failure
Prog = Progesterone
PROM = Premature Rupture of Membranes
PUPO= Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise
PV = Postitive Vibes

RE = Reproductive Endocrinologist
R-hFSH = Recombinant Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone
RI = Reproductive Immunologist
ROS = Reactive Oxygen Species
RPL = Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
RSA = Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
Rx = Prescription

S/A= Sperm/semen analysis
SA = Semen Analysis
SC = Subcutaneous Injections
SI = Secondary Infertility
SIS = Sister in surrogacy
SM = Surrogate Mother
SO = Significant Other
SOP = Standard Operational Procedure
SP = Sperm Count
STD = Sexually Transmitted Disease
Stimming = using drugs to stimulate the ovaries
Stims = stimulation drugs
SUZI = Sub-Zonal Insertion

TAB = Taking A Break
TET = Tubal Embryo Transfer
TS = Traditional Surrogate
TSH =  Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
TTC = Trying to Conceive
TTCAR = Trying to Conceive after Reversal
TUFT = Trans-Uterine Fallopian Transfer
TX = Treatment

UR = Urologist
US = Ultra Sound
US, u/s = Ultrasound or ultrasonography

ZIFT = Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer