Fertility Glossary of Terms
The world of infertility carries an alphabet soup of acronyms and euphemisms in addition to many unfamiliar words and phrases.
Knowing exactly what each acronym or phrase means increases awareness and knowledge, which in turn decreases anxiety and fear.
Here is a list of some common infertility acronyms or phrases. These acronyms are often used in discussion forums and blogs. Our list was compiled from a number of sources; if you know of any we’ve missed, please let us know! Click here to send them to us.
Need to Know:
AH Assisted Hatching
AI Artificial Insemination
ART Assisted Reproductive Technology
DI Donor Insemination
DIUI Donor Intrauterine Insemination
ED Egg Donor
ICSI Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
IP Intended Parent
IUI Intra Uterine Insemination
IVF In Vitro Fertilization (In Vitro = In Glass)
FE Frozen Embryo
FET Frozen Embryo Transfer
FS Fertility Specialist
TTC Trying to Conceive
2WW Two Week Wait (Time from Ovulation/Egg Transfer to Pregnancy Test)
Alphabetical
A
AF Aunt Flo, Period, or Menstrual cycle
AH Assisted Hatching
ART Assisted Reproductive Technology
B
BBT Basal Body Temperature
BCP Birth Control Pills
Beta HCG pregnancy test
BMS Baby-making Sex
B/W Blood work
C
CCCT, CCT Clomiphene Citrate Challenge Test (Clomid Challenge Test)
CD Calendar Day
CM Cervical Mucus
D
D&C Dilation & Curettage
D&E Dilation & Evacuation
DE Donor Eggs
DES Diethylstilbestrol (a synthetic estrogen)
DI Donor Insemination
DIUI Donor Intrauterine Insemination
DOST Direct Oocyte-Sperm Transfer
DOR Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Ovarian reserve roughly equates to how many eggs are left in the ovaries. If ovarian reserve is diminished, it could be a sign that the ovaries are “old”, meaning that menopause is approaching. See also POF.
DPO Days Post-Ovulation
DPR Days Post-Retrieval
DPT Days Post-Transfer
Dx Diagnosis
E
E2 Estradiol
This is the form of estrogen that is measured in blood work. This is most often checked during the portion of a cycle when the doctor is checking on the performance of the ovaries.
EB Embryo Banking
The process when a patient completes the IVF procedure and decides to freeze
all embyos that result, and elects to not have an embryo transfer
ED Egg Donation.
The process of using eggs from another woman during an IVF cycle.
ENDO Endometriosis
ER Egg Retrieval
ET Embryo Transfer
EWCMEgg White Cervical Mucus
F
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
FE Frozen Embryo
FET Frozen Embryo Transfer
FHR Fetal Heart Rate
FMP First Morning Pee
FRED First Response Early Detection
FSH Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
G
GC Gestational Carrier
GIFT Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer
GnRH Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
GIFT Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer
GnRH Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
GP General Practitioner
GS Gestational Surrogate
H
HCG Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
hMG, HMG Human Menopausal Gonadotropin
HOM High Order Multiples
HPT Home Pregnancy Test
HY Hysteroscopy
Follows the path of the embryo transfer to the uterus and is performed to assess for blockages such as fibroids or polyps. Performed on day 6-10 of menses and can be performed in physicians office, and does not require anesthesia. If HSG (below) is performed within 3-6 months prior to your IVF cycle, then a hysteroscopy may not be required.
HSG Hysterosalpingogram.
This is a test which checks the basic structure of the uterus as well as checking to see if the fallopian tubes are open. During the test, a doctor shoots dye up through the cervix to see if it flows through the uterus and both fallopian
HYP hyper stimulation
I
IC Incompetent Cervix
ICPC Interstate Compact
ICSI Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
IF Infertility
IM Intramuscular injections
IOR Immature Oocyte Retrieval
IP Intended Parent
IR Insulin Resistant
IUI Intrauterine Insemination
In Vitro Latin root “in glass”, meaning in a lab
IVF In Vitro Fertilization
IVIg Intravenous Immunoglobulin
Injectables
Any number of gonadotropic medications which are used to either induce
ovulation or promote ovarian hyper stimulation. The name comes from the fact that the medication is delivered via an injection. Common injectable medications include Follistim, Gonal-F, and Repronex.
L
LAP Laparoscopy
LH Luteinizing Hormone
LAC Licensed Acupuncturist
LSC Low Sperm Count
LPD Luteal-Phase Defect
M
MC, m/c Miscarriage
MESA Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration
O
O Ovulation
OCP Oral Contraceptive Pill
OD Ovulatory Dysfunction
OHSS Ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome.
A medical emergency caused when the ovaries are over-stimulated by gonadotropins. Symptoms include rapid weight gain, swelling, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and pain.
OPK Ovulation Predictor Kit
OV Ovulated
Ova Egg
P
P4 Progesterone.
This hormone is measured at various times during the cycle in order to monitor ovulatory function.
PA Pelvic Adhesions
PCO Polycystic Ovary Disease
PCOS Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
A complex condition where many cysts form on the ovaries. Other components of the syndrome include insulin resistance, excessive body hair, excess weight, irregular menstrual cycles, and difficulty conceiving.
PCT Post Coital Test
PE Pre-Eclampsia
PG Pregnant
PGD Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis.
Used in conjunction with IVF in order to make certain that the embryos which are transferred back to the uterus are genetically viable. PGD is sometimes used to check for the standard chromosomes that are known to go awry, i.e. Chromosome 13. In other cases, PGD is used because one of the parties involved in the IVF has a known chromosomal defect.
PG Pregnant
PGD Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis
PID Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PIO Progesterone In Oil
PLT Pre-term Labor
PMS Pre-menstrual Syndrome
POAS Pee On A Stick (Making reference to home pregnancy tests or ovulation tests)
POF Premature Ovarian Failure.
This occurs when the ovaries shut down earlier than one would expect, based on age and health history. In layman’s terms, this would be the same thing as early menopause.
PROG Progesterone
PUPO Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise
R
RE Reproductive Endocrinologist
An OB/GYN with additional training, these physicians are specially trained to diagnose and treat infertility. They do not perform well-woman exams or deliver babies; they spend all of their time working with infertile couples. Make sure to look for an RE certified by the ASRM
RPL Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
S
SA Semen Analysis
SubQ Subcutaneous injection
SC Subcutaneous Injections
SCH SubChorionic Hemorrhage
SI Secondary Infertility
SP Sperm Count
S/S Signs and Symptoms
STD Sexually Transmitted Disease
Stims Stimulation Drugs
Stimming Using drugs to stimulate the ovaries
T
TET Tubal Embryo Transfer
TTC Trying To Conceive or get pregnant
Tx Treatment
Totsicle Frozen Embryo on Ice
TVA Trans-vaginal Aspiration
The procedure where the eggs are retrieved from the ovaries
TS Traditional Surrogate
TSH Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
U
US, u/s Ultrasound
W
2WW 2 Week Wait (from transfer until pg test)
Z
ZIFT Zygote Intra-fallopian Transfer ART = assisted reproductive treatment
Zygote Fertilized Egg
Fertility glossary of terms.
Call our San Diego Fertility Clinic for a consultation at (760) 633-2231
California Center for Reproductive Medicine
477 N. El Camino Real,
Building C Suite 208
Encinitas, CA 92024
Office: (760) 633-2231
Email: info@cacrm.com
Meet San Diego fertility doctor Lori Arnold click here
IVF Fertility Clinic San Diego
The California Center for Reproductive Medicine San Diego.
CACRM San Diego fertility clinic provides treatments, therapy and
services relating to fertility and infertility.
Call to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lori Arnold at
619-397-2950.
