The fertility world runs on acronyms. Here's every one you'll encounter, organized by category, so you can navigate forums, apps, and doctor's visits without confusion.
Trying to Conceive (TTC) Basics
| Acronym | Meaning | Context |
|---|
| TTC | Trying to conceive | The umbrella term for actively trying to get pregnant |
| BD | Baby dance | Euphemism for intercourse (used heavily in fertility forums) |
| DTD | Doing the deed | Same as BD |
| NTNP | Not trying, not preventing | Having unprotected sex without actively tracking or timing |
| WTT | Waiting to try | Interested in having a baby but not yet actively trying |
Cycle Tracking
| Acronym | Meaning | Context |
|---|
| CD | Cycle day | Day of your menstrual cycle (CD1 = first day of period) |
| DPO | Days past ovulation | How many days since you ovulated (DPO 1, DPO 12, etc.) |
| OPK | Ovulation predictor kit | Urine test that detects LH surge before ovulation |
| BBT | Basal body temperature | Your resting temperature, used to confirm ovulation |
| CM / EWCM | Cervical mucus / Egg-white cervical mucus | Vaginal discharge that indicates fertility; EWCM = peak fertility sign |
| LP | Luteal phase | The phase between ovulation and your next period (usually 12–16 days) |
| FW | Fertile window | The ~6 days per cycle when conception is possible |
| AF | Aunt Flo | Period/menstruation (forum slang) |
Pregnancy Testing
| Acronym | Meaning | Context |
|---|
| TWW | Two-week wait | The ~14-day period between ovulation and expected period |
| BFP | Big fat positive | A positive pregnancy test |
| BFN | Big fat negative | A negative pregnancy test |
| FRER | First Response Early Result | A popular sensitive pregnancy test brand |
| hCG | Human chorionic gonadotropin | The hormone pregnancy tests detect |
| CP | Chemical pregnancy | A very early pregnancy loss (positive test followed by period) |
Medical Terms
| Acronym | Meaning | Context |
|---|
| RE | Reproductive endocrinologist | Fertility specialist doctor |
| OB-GYN | Obstetrician-gynecologist | General women's health doctor |
| SA | Semen analysis | Test of sperm count, motility, and morphology |
| HSG | Hysterosalpingogram | X-ray test to check if fallopian tubes are open |
| SHG | Sonohysterogram | Ultrasound with saline to evaluate uterine cavity |
| AMH | Anti-Müllerian hormone | Blood test for ovarian reserve |
| FSH | Follicle-stimulating hormone | Hormone that drives egg development |
| LH | Luteinizing hormone | Hormone that triggers ovulation |
| TSH | Thyroid-stimulating hormone | Screens for thyroid issues affecting fertility |
Treatments
| Acronym | Meaning | Context |
|---|
| IUI | Intrauterine insemination | Placing washed sperm directly in the uterus |
| IVF | In vitro fertilization | Fertilizing eggs outside the body and transferring embryos |
| ICSI | Intracytoplasmic sperm injection | Injecting a single sperm directly into an egg (used with IVF) |
| FET | Frozen embryo transfer | Transferring a previously frozen embryo |
| PGT-A | Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy | Testing embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer |
| ER | Egg retrieval | The procedure to collect eggs during IVF |
| ET | Embryo transfer | Placing an embryo into the uterus |
| OHSS | Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome | Complication of IVF stimulation; ovaries over-respond |
Diagnoses
| Acronym | Meaning | Context |
|---|
| PCOS | Polycystic ovary syndrome | Most common cause of irregular ovulation |
| DOR | Diminished ovarian reserve | Lower-than-expected egg supply for age |
| MFI | Male factor infertility | Fertility issues originating from the male partner |
| RPL | Recurrent pregnancy loss | Two or more pregnancy losses |
| APS | Antiphospholipid syndrome | Autoimmune clotting disorder causing miscarriage |
| LPD | Luteal phase defect | Short luteal phase with insufficient progesterone |
| POI | Primary ovarian insufficiency | Loss of ovarian function before age 40 (formerly “premature menopause”) |
| UI | Unexplained infertility | No identifiable cause found after standard workup |
New to TTC?
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