It’s time to learn the ABCs of TTC as a SMC!
One of the first things you notice after joining the Facebook groups or following other single mothers by choice on Instagram, is that there are a lot of acronyms!! It can make you want to smack your head against the wall trying to read posts that make no sense, unless you know all the abbrevs. And the list is ever-growing.
Most of the Facebook groups also have units where you can find similar lists. The following list is not exhaustive, but the ones I have seen the most or find the most useful to know, and there could be new ones in the future, so I’ll try to update regularly. It also includes some words, phrases and medical terms you may not be familiar with as a new SMC.
AF – Aunt Flo (Period, Menstrual Cycle)
AFP – Alpha Fetoprotein test (AFP is a protein produced in the liver of a developing fetusk, the test measures the level of AFP in the pregnant women in the second trimester, in order to screen for Down Syndrome, neural tube defects and other chromosomal abnormalities)
AH – assisted hatching
ART – Assisted Reproductive Technology
ADI – anonymous donor insemination
AHI – at home insemination
AI – artificial insemination
AMA – advanced maternal age
AMH – anti-mullerian hormone (assesses ovarian reserve)
ANA – antinuclear antibodies
APA – antiphospholipid antibodies
ASRM – American Society of Reproductive Medicine
B2B – back to back (as in 2 inseminations done two days in a row)
BA – baby aspirin
Baby Dust – not an acronym, but a way to say good luck and good vibes for getting pregnant
BBT – basal body temperature
BC/BCP – birth control pill
BD – baby dance
Beta – blood test to determine positive pregnancy
BF – breastfeeding
BFN – big fat negative (a negative pregnancy test)
BFP – big fat positive (a positive pregnancy test)
Blighted ovum – when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, but does not develop into an embryo
CB – cycle buddy
CD – cycle day
CF – cervical fluid or Cystic Fibrosis
CM – cervical mucus
CMV – Cytomegalovirus
CNM – Certified Nurse Midwife
CNY – CNY Fertility Clinic
CP – cervical position or chemical pregnancy
CVS – chorionic villus sampling (test for prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal or genetic disorders)
DC/DCP – donor conceived/donor conceived person
DD – dear daughter
DE – donor egg
DHEA/DHEA-S – dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate
DI – donor insemination (usually anonymous)
Dibling – donor sibling
DS – dear son
D&C – dilation and curettage
D&E – dilation and evacuation
DOR – diminished ovarian reserve
DPIUI – days post IUI
DPO – days post ovulation
DPR – days post retrieval
DPT – days post transfer
DSR – donor sibling registry
Dx – diagnosis
E2 – estradiol, blood test for estrogen level
EBM – expressed breast milk
EDD – estimated due date
Embie – embryo
Endo – Endometriosis
EPO – evening primrose oil (also a medical abbreviation for erythropoietin, a key hormone in red blood cell production)
EPT – early pregnancy test
ER – egg retrieval
ERA – Endometrial Receptivity Analysis
ET – embryo transfer
EWCM – egg white cervical mucus
FET – frozen embryo transfer
FMU – first morning urine
FP – follicular phase
FRER – First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test
FSH – follicle stimulating hormone
FYI – for your information
FWIW – for what it’s worth
FX – fingers crossed
GD – gestational diabetes
GIFT – gamete intrafallopian transfer
GnRH – Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone
GP – general practitioner
GTT – glucose tolerance test
hCG, HCG – Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
hMG, HMG – Human Menopausal Gonadotropin
HPT – home pregnancy test
HSC – hysteroscopy
HSG – hysterosalpingogram (dye test to see the uterus and if the fallopian tubes are open)
HTH – hope that helps
Hx – history
ICBW – I could be wrong
ICI – intracervical insemination
ICSI – intracytoplasmic sperm injection
IGTT – insulin and glucose tolerance test
IM – intramuscular (injection)
IME – in my experience
IMHO – in my humble opinion
IMO – in my opinion
IOR – immature oocyte retrieval
IOW – in other words
IUI – intrauterine insemination
IR – insulin resistant
IUGR – intrauterine growth restriction
IVF – In vitro fertilization
KD – known donor
KDI – known donor insemination
LAP – laparoscopy
LH – luteinizing hormone
LMP – last menstrual period (first day of)
LP – luteal phase
LPD – luteal phase defect
LSP – low sperm count
LUF, LUFS – Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome
MC, m/c – miscarriage
MMC – missed miscarriage
MTHFR – methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (enzyme that breaks down the amino acid homocysteine, has the potential for mutation that affects folate absorption)
NI – natural insemination
NK – natural killer cells
NP – nurse practitioner
O – ovulation, ovulated
OB – Obstetrician
OB/GYN – Obstetrician/Gynecologist
OCP – oral contraceptive pill
OD – ovulatory dysfunction
OHSS – Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
OHT – one-handed typing
OIC – Oh I (C) See
OPK – ovulation predictor kit
OPT – ovulation predictor test
OTOH – on the other hand
OTS – off the subject
OTC – over the counter
PCO – polycystic ovaries
PCOD – Polycystic Ovary Disease
PCOS – Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
PCP – Primary Care Physician
PG – pregnant
PGD – Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
PGS – Preimplantation Genetic Screening
PGT-A – Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidies
PID – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PIO – progesterone in oil
PMS – Premenstrual Syndrome
POAS – pee on a stick (HPT)
POF – premature ovarian failure
PUPO – pregnant until proven otherwise
RE – Reproductive Endocrinologist
RI – Reproductive Immunologist
ROTFL – rolling on the floor laughing
RPL – recurrent pregnancy loss
Rx – prescription
SA – semen analysis
SART – Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology
SHG, SonoHSG – sonohysterogram
SI – secondary infertility
SMC/SMBC – single mother by choice
T42 – trying for #2
T4 – thyroxine
TIA – thanks in advance
Trigger Shot – injection used to force ovulation
TSBC – The Sperm Bank of California
TSH – thyroid stimulating hormone
TTC – trying to conceive
TTFN – ta ta for now
TVOA – Trans-Vaginal Oocyte Aspiration
TW – trigger warning
Tx – treatment
US – ultrasound
UTI – urinary tract infection
VFL – very faint line
VVFL – very very faint line
WNL – within normal limits
ZIFT – zygote intrafallopian transfer
2WW or TWW – two week wait (time between ovulation/insemination and pregnancy result)
