If you’re having difficulty conceiving, it can be very emotionally demanding. Although your first instinct may be to keep the details of your fertility journey to yourself, sharing your progress with others may allow you to:
- Ease the burden and the stress of navigating treatment on your own
- Understand your own feelings and concerns, and those of your partner
- Identify other people you know going through a similar experience
Opening up about your experience with fertility can relieve your emotional burden and help you cope with the situation, so you can feel more supported during your fertility journey.
Understanding fertility lingo
A quick guide to some of the most common abbreviations that community message board members use to discuss past and present fertility experiences.
See a complete list at Resolve.org
2WW: 2 Week Wait | HRT: Hormone Replacement Therapy |
AF: Aunt Flo, After Flo, Period, or Menstrual Cycle | HSC: Hysteroscopy |
AI: Artificial/Assisted Insemination | HSG: Hysterosalpingogram |
ART: Assisted Reproductive Technology | HX: History |
BA: Baby Aspirin | IF: Infertility |
BBT: Basal Body Temperature | IGTT: Insulin and Glucose Tolerance Test |
BCP: Birth Control Pills | IUI: Intra-uterine Insemination |
BD: Baby Dance (sex) | IVF/ET: In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer |
Beta: HCG pregnancy test | IVF: In Vitro Fertilization |
BFN: Big Fat Negative | LAP: Laparoscopy |
BFP: Big Fat Positive | LH: Luteinizing Hormone |
B/W, b/w: Bloodwork | LMP: Last Menstrual Period (start date) |
CB: Cycle Buddy | LP: Luteal-Phase: |
CD: Cycle Day | LPD: Luteal-Phase Defect |
CF: Cystic Fibrosis | LSP: Low Sperm Count |
CM: Cervical Mucus | MC, m/c, misc.: Miscarriage |
CP: Cervical Position | MENTS: Subject Matter May Be Difficult to Read |
CVS: Chorionic Villae Sampling | MF: Male Factor |
D&C: Dilation & Curettage | O, OV: Ovulation |
D&E: Dilation & Evacuation | OB/GYN: Obstetrician/Gynecologist |
DE: Donor Eggs | OC: Oral Contraceptives |
DH: Dear Husband | OD: Ovum Donor, Ovulatory Dysfunction |
DI: Donor Husband | OHSS: Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome |
DOR: Diminished Ovarian Reserve | OPK: Ovulation Predictor Kit |
DPO: Days Post-Ovulation | OPT: Ovulation Predictor Test |
DPR: Days Post-Retrieval | P4. Prog: Progesterone |
DPT: Days Post-Transfer | PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome |
DP3DT: Days Post 3-Day Transfer | PCP: Primary Care Physician |
DP5DT: Days Post 5-Day Transfer | PCT: Post Coital Test |
DW: Dear Wife | PG: Pregnant |
Dx: Diagnosis | PGT: Preimplantation Genetic Testing |
E2: Estradiol | PI: Primary Infertility |
ENDO: Endometriosis | PID: Pelvic Inflamatory Disease |
EPT: Early Pregnancy Test | PMS: Pre-menstrual Syndrome |
ER: Egg Retrieval | POAS: Pee On A Stick |
ET: Egg Transfer | POF: Premature Ovarian Failure |
FBG: Fasting Blood Glucose | RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist |
FF: Fertility Friend | R-hFSH: Recombinant Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone |
FHR: Fetal Heart Rate | SA: Semen Analysis |
FP: Follicular Phase | S/B, s/b: Stillbirth |
FM: Fertility Mucus or Fertility Monitor | SI: Secondary Infertility |
Frostie: Frozen Embryo | S/S: Signs/Symptoms |
FSH: Follicle-Stimulating Hormone | STD: Sexually Transmitted Disease |
FTTA: Fertile Thoughts to All | TL: Tubal Ligation |
GD: Gestational Diabetes | TRH: Thyroid Releasing Hormone |
GIFT: Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer | TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone |
GnRH: Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone | TTC: Trying To Conceive |
GTT: Glucose Tolerance Test | TX: Treatment |
HCG, hcg: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin | UR: Urologist |
HMG, hMG: Human Menopausal Gonadotropin | US: Ultrasound |
HCP: Health Care Practitioner | ZIFT: Zygote Intra-fallopian Transfer |
HPT: Home Pregnancy Test |