When going through fertility treatment, you’ll encounter a new set of terms and acronyms that you’ve likely never heard of before. Whether someone is waiting to POAS after their FET and hates PIO injections, or they need to BD, but DH is having trouble—(TMI!), you might be feeling overwhelmed. 

If you’re trying to find a community on infertility forums, or over social media, you’re probably going to see a ton of abbreviations. It sort of feels like learning a foreign language, but over time, you’ll pick up on the lingo and may start to use it yourself. After all, you’re too busy attending doctor appointments, giving yourself injections, and focusing on growing follicles. 

Use this cheat sheet with some of the most common fertility terms acronyms until you feel like a pro. 

A

AF: Aunt Flo (your period/menstrual cycle)

ANA: Antinuclear antibodies

ART: Assisted reproductive technology

ASRM: American Society of Reproductive Medicine

B

BBT: Basal body temperature 

BCP: Birth control pills

BD: Baby dance (having sex with the intention of getting pregnant)

Beta: pregnancy blood test that measures the level of hCG

BFN: Big fat negative (negative pregnancy test) 

BFP: Big fat positive (positive pregnancy test)

BW: Bloodwork

C

CCT: Clomid challenge test

CD: Cycle day (a specific day in your menstrual cycle)

CM: Cervical mucus

D

D&C: Dilation and curettage

DE: Donor eggs

DH: Dear husband

DOR: Diminished ovarian reserve

DP: Dear partner

DPT: Days post-transfer: days after an embryo transfer

DPO: Days post-ovulation (used while waiting to take a pregnancy test) 

DW: Dear wife

Dx: Diagnosis

E

E2: Estradiol

EDD: Estimated due date

ENDO: Endometriosis

ER: Egg retrieval

ERA: Endometrial receptivity array

ET: Embryo transfer

EWCM: Egg white cervical mucus: describing the consistency of cervical mucus present around ovulation

F

FET: Frozen embryo transfer

FSH: Follicle-stimulating hormone

G

GnRH: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

H

HCG: Human chorionic gonadotropin: the hormone tested to determine pregnancy

HPT: Home pregnancy test

HSG: Hysterosalpingogram

I

ICSI: Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection

IF: Infertility

IM: Intramuscular injections

IUI: Intrauterine insemination

IVF: In vitro fertilization

IVIg: Intravenous immunoglobulin

L

Lap: Laparoscopy

LH: Luteinizing hormone

LMP: Last menstrual period

M

MC, M/C: Miscarriage

MF: Male factor

O

O: Ovulation

OB, OB/GYN: Obstetrician or obstetrician/gynecologist

OHSS: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

OPT or OPK: Ovulation predictor test or ovulation predictor kit

P

P4, Prog: Progesterone

PCOS: Polycystic ovary syndrome

PCP: Primary care physician

PCT: Post-coital test

PESA: Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration

PG: Pregnant

PID: Pelvic inflammatory disease

PIO: Progesterone in oil

PMS: Pre-menstrual syndrome

POAS: Pee on a stick

POF: Premature ovarian failure

R

RE: Reproductive endocrinologist

RI: Reproductive immunologist

RPL: Recurrent pregnancy loss

S

SA: Semen analysis

SART: Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology

SHG: Sonohysterogram

SO: Significant other

SPA: Sperm penetration assay

SubQ: Subcutaneous injection

T

T4: Thyroxine

TESA: Testicular Sperm Aspiration

TI: Timed intercourse

TMI: Too much information

TSH: Thyroid-stimulating hormone

TTC: Trying to conceive

TWW or 2WW: Two-week wait (time-frame between ovulation your pregnancy test)

U

US: Ultrasound

W

WNL: Within normal limits

You might be feeling like your head is spinning with all the abbreviations and slang in the fertility world, but remember it’s more important you’re connecting with others who can relate to what you’re experiencing. With this cheat sheet, you can arm yourself with the fertility lingo and wait for your BFP. 

Learn more about your fertility options at ccrmivf.com.