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Back to School: ABC’s of Fertility Acronyms & Social Media Hashtags

Written by PFCLA | 23 Aug 2022

Have you ever been on a message board where everyone seems to be communicating in a secret language? Terms like TTC, EDD, and PG are being thrown around and you can’t help but start to feel a little lost.

Here is the ultimate guide for all the fertility terms and abbreviations you need to know.

Most Commonly Used Fertility Acronyms

The medical side of your fertility journey can get complicated. Add some unknown abbreviations and you’re sure to be confused. Here’s a breakdown of the fertility terms you may see.

Let’s run through these in alphabetical order: 

2WW: Two-Week Wait

This refers to the time between implantation and getting a positive or negative pregnancy test result.

AF: Aunt Flo

Slang for your monthly period.

AH: Assisted Hatching

A technique that helps to improve your chances of conception when performed with IVF.

AI: Artificial Insemination

In artificial insemination, a doctor injects sperm directly into a woman's cervix, fallopian tubes, or uterus.

ART: Assisted Reproductive Technology

ART is used to treat infertility. It includes fertility treatments for both eggs and sperm.

BFN: Big Fat Negative

Slang term used to convey disappointment with a negative result on a pregnancy test.

BFP: Big Fat Positive

Slang reference to a positive result on a pregnancy test.

BR: Bed Rest

This term refers to when your doctor tells you to limit your activity due to the strain on the pregnancy.

DE: Donor Eggs 

This term refers to the eggs retrieved from an egg donor.

DPO: Days Post Ovulation

DPO refers to the number of days since ovulation.

DPR or PR: Days Post Retrieval or Post Retrieval

The method used to count the days post the retrieval of the eggs. 

DPT/PT: Days Post Transfer

The method used to count the days after the eggs have been transferred.

DX: Diagnosis

Medical diagnosis.

EDD: Estimated Due Date

This is, well, your estimated due date! When surrogates and intended parents experience successful fertilization and a BFP on the blood pregnancy test, you’ll have an estimated due date. 

ENDO: Endometriosis

A disorder in which tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus. 

ER: Egg Retrieval

A surgical procedure to remove eggs for either freezing or fertilization.

FET: Fresh Embryo Transfer

A step within in vitro fertilization, the embryo transfer is a process where a fertility specialist transfers an unfrozen fertilized embryo into a uterus.  

FET: Frozen Embryo Transfer

An alternative embryo transfer, a frozen embryo transfer is a process of implanting a frozen embryo into a uterus. 

Frostie: Frozen Embryo

Slang term used for frozen embryos on message boards.

FTTA: Fertile Thoughts to All

Slang term used to sign off on message boards.

FT: Full Term

A pregnancy is considered full term at 39 weeks. 

hCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

hCG is the hormone produced early in pregnancy, which is naturally released after successful implantation. This is what triggers a BFP during your pregnancy test. 

HPT: Home Pregnancy Test

An OTC pregnancy test you take at home.

HX: History

Medical history.

IB: Implantation Bleeding

Light spotting or bleeding usually occurs 10-15 days after implantation.

ICI: Intracervical Sperm Injection

When sperm is injected into the cervix.

ICSI: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

A technique for in vitro fertilization in which an individual sperm cell is introduced into an egg cell.

IF: Infertility

Inability to conceive.

ITI: Intratubal Insemination

Intratubal insemination involves the placement of pre-washed sperm directly into the woman's fallopian tube.

IVF: In Vitro Fertilization

A medical procedure whereby an egg is fertilized by sperm in a test tube or elsewhere outside the body.

IUI: Intrauterine Insemination

Intrauterine insemination is a fertility treatment that involves placing sperm within a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization. 

LH: Luteinising Hormone

The hormone that triggers ovulation; is an LH surge is an increase in LH just before ovulation.

LMP: Last Menstrual Period

Throughout your fertility journey, you will get asked this a lot.

LSP: Low Sperm Count

Low sperm count is having less than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. This condition is also called oligospermia.

MAI: Miscarriage After Infertility

When a miscarriage occurs after undergoing infertility treatments.

MC: Miscarriage

The unexpecting ending of a pregnancy in the first 20 weeks of gestation.

OB: Obstetrician

A doctor with special training in delivering babies and caring for women during pregnancy and after they give birth.

OHSS: Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is an exaggerated response to excess hormones. It occurs in women taking injectable hormone medications to stimulate the development of eggs in the ovaries. 

OV: Ovulation

Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from an ovary into the fallopian tube. It is part of the menstrual cycle and plays a major role in pregnancy.

PAF: Pregnant After Infertility

Achieving pregnancy after struggling with infertility.

PCOS: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

PCOS is a hormonal disorder that results from an imbalance of your reproductive hormones. This is a common health issue among women of childbearing age and is one of the most common causes of infertility. 

PI: Primary Infertility

Primary infertility is a term used to describe a couple that has never been able to conceive a pregnancy after a minimum of 1 year of trying to do so through unprotected intercourse.

PG: Pregnant

The result of a successful conception.

PGD: Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

Genetic analysis of a live embryo to determine if there is any abnormality or genetic disease in chromosomes. By examining each embryo, your fertility specialist can determine the strongest, healthiest embryo(s) to implant within the surrogate or intended mother to increase your chances of a successful conception. 

PGS/PGT-A: Preimplantation Genetic Screening 

Genetic analysis of a live embryo to assess the number of chromosomes present. If more or less than 46 chromosomes are present (2 pairs of 23), there is an aneuploidy -- too many or too few chromosomes in the embryo.  

PUPO: Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise

Positive mindset women and couples choose to focus on during the waiting period after undergoing an embryo transfer.

RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist

A doctor who has special training in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility.

RPL: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Recurrent pregnancy loss is defined as having two or more miscarriages.

SA: Semen Analysis

A semen analysis, also called seminogram, spermiogram, or a sperm count, measures the quantity and quality of a man's semen and sperm.

SI: Secondary Infertility

Secondary infertility is the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to full term after previously given birth.

SD: Sperm Donor

This term refers to the man whose sperm is used to fertilize the egg.

TR: Tubal Reversal

Tubal reversal is a surgical procedure to reconnect a woman's fallopian tubes after a previous tubal ligation.

TTC: Trying To Conceive

A term to describe couples having unprotected sex to begin their journey into parenthood. 

TX: Treatment

Medical treatment.

US: Ultrasound

A non-invasive procedure to check on the baby, ultrasounds are done periodically throughout the pregnancy. Ultrasounds can confirm the pregnancy, reveal the baby’s heartbeat, and see images at different stages in the pregnancy journey.

Most Commonly Used Fertility Hashtags

Trying to conceive can be a hard battle. On social media, you can find support communities through various hashtags. Below are some of the most commonly used fertility hashtags across multiple social media platforms. 

#IVFWarrior

#IVFGotThis

#IVFAPregnancyAnnouncement

#1in8

#TTC

#TTCCommunity

#TTCSupport

#TTCJourney

#PUPO

#embaby

#embabyonboard

#TransferDay

 

Fertility Terms and Hashtags, Defined

So, there you have it. Your basic guide to the most commonly used fertility terms and abbreviations used. Now when you jump on the message boards or post to social media, you’ll be able to communicate like a pro.

And remember, we’re here for you. If you have any other questions regarding your fertility journey, don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here for all your questions and concerns.