Confused by ‘shortforms’ used in fertility forums? This article offers a nice guide.

For the uninitiated the whole fertility process can be a hard pill to swallow, after you have seen your Fertility Specialist, you go home and decide to do some research on the internet. Just to be bombarded by shorts and acronyms like HCG, PCOS, ENDO, and of course TTC. Below is a list of commonly used acronyms in fertility.

2WW
2 Week Wait. It’s that time between post IVF transfer and taking a beta test to prove pregnancy. It’s a nervous time, hoping the transfer is successful.

AF
Aunt Flo, After Flo, Period, or Menstrual Cycle.

AH
Assisted Hatching. It’s an IVF term, where an embryologist will create a small hole in the embryo shell before transfer. It’s thought that embryos who have assistance hatching are more likely to implant.

AI
Artificial/Assisted Insemination. Where semen is injected into the vagina or uterus.

ART
Assisted Reproductive Technology. Essentially any conception assistance that isn’t sex. Examples would be IVF or IUI.

AMH
Anti-Mullerian Hormone. The hormone that predicts ovarian reserve (that is, the number of eggs you have left in your ovaries).

Baby Dust
That magic something that ensures the whole pregnancy process goes as planned.

BBT
Basal Body Temperature. Helpful for temperature charting to predict ovulation.

BCP/OCP
Birth Control Pills.

BD
Baby Dance, otherwise known as sex.

Beta
The beta is a pregnancy test taken after the 2WW. It measures the levels of the hormone beta-hCG via a blood test, as it is the first measurable sign of implantation.

BFN
Big Fat Negative. When you take a pregnancy test and you’re not pregnant. 🙁

BFP
Big Fat Positive. What we’re all looking for – when you take a pregnancy test and it is positive. High five!

BW
Bloodwork. Getting bloods drawn is a fairly frequent occurrence if you’re working with assisted reproduction.

CB
Cycle Buddy. When you have a friend with a similar cycle to you, and you both run through similar IVF/IUI journeys at the time.

CD
Cycle Day. The day of your cycle. The first day of your period is CD1.

CM
Cervical Mucus. Your body produces a mucus around the cervix. It’s typically used to prevent any bacteria moving between the vagina to the uterus. When you’re ovulating estrogen alters the mucus to become sperm friendly, which allows the sperm to move quickly through the uterus to the fallopian tubes.

DH
Dear Husband.

DHEA
Dihydroepiandrosterone is a hormone that can be taken as a supplement. It’s naturally occurring in most women and converts into androgens (like testosterone). It’s used to improve outcomes for women experiencing Diminished Ovarian Reserve.

DOR
Diminished Ovarian Reserve. A condition where a woman will have a low number of eggs in her ovaries, or impaired development of existing eggs. It’s thought to be one of the main causes of infertility.

DPO
Days Post-Ovulation.

DPR
Days Post-Egg Retrieval.

DPT
Days Post-Transfer. Often it will have a number in front – 5DPT would be 5 days post transfer.

DP3DT
Days Post 3-Day Transfer. This refers to an embryo that was transferred on Day 3 after egg retrieval.

DP5DT
Similar to the above, except a 5 Day old blastocyst was transferred.

DW
Dear Wife.

E2
Estradiol. Estradiol is the primary female sex hormone. Most importantly, as your follicles grow it triggers hypothalamic-pituitary events that lead to a luteinizing hormone surge which induces ovulation. It will be one of the hormones measured frequently during an IVF round.

ENDO
Endometriosis is a common condition where tissue that behaves like the lining of the womb is found outside the womb.

ER
Egg Retrieval. Where, after being stimulated with hormones during an IVF cycle, the eggs are retrieved from the ovaries.

ET
Embryo Transfer. Where, after being fertilised and allowed to cleave during an IVF cycle, the embryo is transferred to the uterus.

EWCM
Egg White Cervical Mucus. The kind of cervical mucus where, around ovulation, it takes on a consistency like egg whites.

FET
Frozen Embryo Transfer. Where a frozen embryo is thawed and transferred to the uterus.

FF
Fertility Friend is an app for tracking fertility.

Frostie
Is a frozen embryo.

FSH
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone promotes the formation of eggs in an ovary. It is used as a guide to indicate the quality of eggs on CD3, which can be used to predicate whether an IVF round should go ahead or not.

GnRH
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone is also known as a luteinizing hormone which is responsible for the release of FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary gland.

GTT
The Glucose Tolerance Test is a tool used to diagnose high blood glucose during pregnancy, otherwise known as gestational diabetes.

hCG, HCG
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a hormone produced in a placenta during pregnancy. It tells the ovary to continue producing estrogen and progesterone which help the lining of your uterus stay intact.

hMG, HMG
Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (also known as Menotropin) is hormonally active medication used to treat infertility. It contains equal amounts of LH and FSH and is used to help stimulate ovulation.

HPT
Home Pregnancy Test.

HSC
Hysteroscopy is a procedure used to examine a womb for fibroids, polyps or adhesions by inserting a narrow camera through the cervix.

HSG
Hysterosalpingogram is a procedure to ensure the fallopian tubes are clear. It’s done by injecting a dye into the cervical canal and then taking an xray as the dye moves around the uterus into the fallopian tubes.

ICI
Intracervical Insemination is an artificial insemination procedure, which involves placing sperm directly into the reproductive tract to improve the chances of pregnancy.

ICSI
Intra-cytoplamic Sperm Injection. This is where a single sperm is inserted into an egg to aid fertilisation.

IUI
Intra-uterine Insemination is a form of assisted conception. Sperm is placed in the uterus near the egg at the time of ovulation.

IVF
In Vitro Fertilization. This is a form of assisted conception, where an egg is removed from an ovary and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The embryo is then transferred to the womb to grow and develop.

LH
Luteinizing Hormone is released to encourage your ovary to ovulate.

LP
Luteal-Phase is the second half of a menstrual cycle that occurs after ovulation. It’s the phase where fertilisation and implantation are likely to happen.

MC
Miscarriage.

MF
Male Factor Infertility.

O, OV
Ovulation.

OB
Obstetrician.

OB/GYN
Obstetrician/Gynecologist.

OC
Oral Contraceptives.

OHSS
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome is an occasional side effect of IVF. Your ovaries overreact to the stimulants and produce too many follicles.

OPK/OPT
Ovulation Predictor Kit/Ovulation Predictor Test. Both work by measuring the amount of luteinzing hormone (LH) in your urine. A surge of LH is an indicator of ovulation.

OTC
Over the Counter. Typically refers to medication.

PCOS/PCOD
Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome/Polycistic Ovarian Disease is a hormone imbalance which interferes with periods and other fertility aspects. It’s thought to be the leading cause of infertility.

PGD/PGS
Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis/Pre-implantation Genetic Screening. This is where an embryo that has grown to Day 5, blastocyst level is sampled and the cells are tested for chromosomal abnormalities.

PMS
Pre-menstrual Syndrome.

POAS
Pee On A Stick. Typically associated with pregnancy tests or OPKs.

RE
Reproductive Endocrinologist.

SA
Semen Analysis. A sample is taken and a few different factors are checked to rule out male infertility.

TSH
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland. It plays a significant role in reproduction and pregnancy. There has shown to be an increase in miscarriages when the TSH levels are off the scale.

TTC
Trying To Conceive.

Source: Acronyms that you should know when you are TTC. | TMC Fertility