Fertility Abbreviations that You Need to Know
As you start searching for fertility information online, you may find yourself lost in the strange world of acronyms and abbreviations. We’ve collected the list of the most popular ones to help you navigate numerous forums and blogs. You’re welcome!
What’s Your Status?
TTC – Trying to Conceive
YTC- Yearning to Conceive
TTA – Trying to Avoid (Pregnancy)
TTW – Trying to Whatever
NFP – Natural Family Planning
BOB- Baby on the Brain, Baby-Obsessed Brain
BC / AC – Before / After Children
PG – Pregnant
HAB – Having a Baby
HAH 9 months – Happy and Healthy 9 Months
FTM – First-time Mother
PP – Postpartum
ML – Maternity Leave
SAHP / SAHM / SAHD – Stay-at-home Parent / Mom / Dad
WAHP – WAHM / WAHD – Work-at-home Parent / Mom / Dad
Important Terms of Menstrual Cycle
CD# – Cycle Day
O / Ov – Ovulation
#DPO – Days past Ovulation
CY# – Cycle Number
FP- Follicular Phase
LP – Luteal Phase
CM – Cervical Mucus
CF – Cervical Fluid (same as mucus)
EGCM – Egg White Cervical Mucus
AF – Aunt Flo (menstrual bleeding)
2WW / TWW – Two-Week Wait (the time between ovulation and either your next period or a positive pregnancy test)
LMP – Last Menstrual Period (the first day of your last period)
Hormones Involved
LH – Luteinizing Hormone (the hormone that triggers ovulation; an LH surge is an increase in LH just before ovulation)
FSH – Follicle Stimulating Hormone
PdG – Progesterone
hCG – Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (the hormone that pregnancy tests measure)
E3G – Estrogen (Estradiol)
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Euphemisms for Sex
BD – Baby Dance
BMS – Baby-Making Sex
DTD – Do the Deed
How Do You Call Your People?
DH – Dear Husband
DF – Dear Fiancé
SO – Significant Other
OH – Other Half
DB – Dear boyfriend
BF – Boyfriend
DuH – Dumb Husband
DP – Dear Partner
LO – Little One
DS – Dear Son
DD – Dear Daughter
Various Things to Assist in TTC Journey
OPK / OPT – Ovulation Predictor Kit / Test
HPT – Home Pregnancy Test
BFN – Big Fat Negative (the result of pregnancy test)
BFP – Big Fat Positive
IC – Internet Cheapie (a cheap pregnancy test or ovulation predictor kit bought online)
EMU – Early Morning Urine
FMU – First Morning Urine
POAS – Pee On A Stick
BBT – Basal Body Temperature
BBTC – Basal Body Temperature Charting
BC / BCP – Birth Control / Birth Control Pills
Medical Conditions and Symptoms
PCOS – Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Endo – Endometriosis
OHSS – Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
PID – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
IC – Incompetent Cervix
MC or M/C – Miscarriage
CP – Chemical Pregnancy
M/S – Morning Sickness
B/W – Blood Work (diagnostic testing of blood)
U/S – Ultrasound
BP – Blood Pressure
BM – Bowel Movement
HCG – Hysterosalpingogram (an X-ray of the womb and fallopian tubes)
IB – Implantation bleeding (slight bleeding or spotting that may happen around the time an embryo implants in your womb)
Infertility Acronyms and Fertility Treatments
FS – Fertility Specialist
RE – Reproductive Endocrinologist
Dx – Diagnosis
IF – Infertility
IW – Infertility Warrior
SF – Subfertility
DI – Donor Insemination
AI – Artificial or Assisted Insemination
ART – Assisted Reproductive Technology (same as IVF)
IVF – In-Vitro Fertilisation
ET – Embryo Transfer
IUI – Intrauterine Insemination
ICI – Intracervical Insemination
ICSI – Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
PGD – Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (where IVF embryos are tested for genetic conditions before implantation)
PGS – Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (where IVF embryos are tested to make sure they have a healthy number of chromosomes before implantation)
PMA – Positive Mental Attitude
SA – Semen Analysis (an assessment of sperm quantity, quality, and motility)
SMEP – Sperm Meets Egg Plan (a specific method for trying to conceive)
SD – Sperm Donor
TCOYF – Take Charge of Your Fertility
Folk Remedies
Some women believe that these natural supplements can help fertility. While we have no intention to support these assertions, we suppose you’d like to know what other people mean by using these acronyms.
AC – Agnus Castus
EPO – Evening Primrose Oil
RLT – Raspberry Leaf Tea
SI – Soya Isoflavones
Some Extras
Baby Dust – This expression is used when you wish someone good luck with conceiving a baby: “Baby Dust to you!” Sticky Dust is used when you wish someone good luck with a current pregnancy.
Snowbaby – Frozen Embryo
Angel Baby – A baby who has been lost during pregnancy, a miscarriage.
Rainbow baby- A baby born following a miscarriage
EDD – Estimated Due Date or Expected Date of Delivery
L&D – Labor and Delivery
CS – C-Section or Cesarean section
Circ. – Circumcise
PPD – Postpartum Depression
DC – Daycare
AP – Attachment Parenting
BF – Breast Feeding
BM – Breast Milk
EBF – Extended Breastfeeding or Exclusively Breastfeeding
FF – Formula Feeding
EBM – Expressed Breast Milk
BLW – Baby-Led Weaning
CIO – Cry It Out
We hope you’ve found our list helpful, and now you’ll feel more confident, even if you’re an FTM. But please remember: while forums, chats, and blogs are great for sharing your feelings and emotions, it is important to share all your pregnancy or fertility concerns with your doctor.
✔️ Medically Reviewed by Banafsheh Kashani, MD, FACOG
Banafsheh Kashani, M.D., FACOG is a board-certified OB/GYN and specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Eden Fertility Centers, and has been treating couples and individuals with infertility since 2014. Prior to joining Eden Centers for Advanced Fertility, she was practicing as a top fertility specialist at Kaiser Permanente in Orange County and Reproductive Fertility Center. Dr. Kashani has received numerous awards throughout her years of study and medical training.
Dr. Kashani has conducted extensive research in female reproduction, with a specific focus on the endometrium and implantation. Additionally, Dr. Kashani has authored papers in the areas of fertility preservation, and fertility in women with PCOS and Turners syndrome. She also was part of a large SART-CORS study evaluating the trend in frozen embryo transfers and success rates.
Dr. Kashani is a fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In addition, she is a diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and an active member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and Pacific Coast Reproductive Society (PCRS). She is also a member of the Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (SREI).