Infertility Acronyms for the Newbies

Navigating infertility can be incredibly confusing, and it becomes even more complex when you engage in conversations with others who are also going through the same experience. I vividly recall being taken aback and wondering why these individuals seemed to be speaking a different language altogether. It’s true, the infertility community has developed its own unique set of acronyms, encompassing a wide range of medical diagnoses, medication protocols, and IVF terminology. Initially, these acronyms can leave your head spinning, but eventually, you come to realize their practicality, especially when you’re constantly engaging in conversations with other individuals who, like you, are exhausted from the journey. Speaking in acronyms simply becomes more convenient since you frequently discuss similar information with one another.

Welcome to your first lesson in infertility if you’re new to this journey! By familiarizing yourself with these acronyms, you’ll quickly sound like a seasoned veteran in no time, (IYKYK).

On the internet, you can find extensive lists, although you may not come across all of the accronymns frequently. I have compiled the following commonly used ones that I believe you will encounter most often.

Accronymn	Description
ACOG	American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Adeno	Adenomyosis
AH	Assisted Hatching
AI	Artificial Insemination
AO	Anovulatory
ART	Assisted Reproduction Technology
ASRM	American Society for Reproductive Medicine
BCP	Birth Control Pills
Beta	A pregnancy test that measures the levels of hCG (pregnancy hormone) via blood work.
BFN	Big Fat Negative, refers to a negative pregnancy test.
BFP	Big Fat Positive, refers to a positive pregnancy test.
BMS	Baby Making Sex
BOB	Baby on the Brain, or thinking about having a baby all the time
BW	Bloodwork
CAH	Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.
CB	Cycle Buddy, someone who either started the cycle with you, ovulated around the same time as you, or is planning to take a pregnancy test at about the same time as you.
DE	Donor Eggs
DEIVF	Donor Egg In Vitro Fertilization
DHEA	Dehydroepiandrosterone, a common supplement taken to help with egg quality
DI	Donor Insemination, as you would have with IUI along with a sperm donor
DOR	Diminished Ovarian Reserve
DPO	Days Past Ovulation
DPR	Days Past Retrieval, or the number of days since you’ve had the oocyte (egg) retrieval during IVF treatment
DPT	Days Past Transfer, or the number of days after embryo transfer in an IVF treatment or embryo donation cycle
EA	Embryo Adoption
E2	Estradiol, a hormone sometimes measured during fertility testing and treatment
EB, EMB	Endometrial Biopsy
EDD	Estimated Due Date
ET	Embryo Transfer, done during IVF
Endo	Endometriosis
FE	Frozen Embryo
FET	Frozen Embryo Transfer, referring to an IVF cycle using previously frozen embryos that have been thawed and then transferred
FSH	Follicle Stimulating Hormone.
GS	Gestational Surrogate
hCG	Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HSG	Hysterosalpingogram, an outpatient procedure that takes no longer than a half-hour. Iodine-based dye is placed through the cervix while taking X-rays. These X-rays help evaluate the shape of the uterus and whether the fallopian tubes are blocked
ICSI	Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, used in IVF for manual out-of-body insemination
IM	Intramuscular Injection
IUI	Intrauterine Insemination
IVF	In Vitro Fertilization
LAP	Laparoscopy
LH	Luteinizing Hormone
LSC	Low Sperm Count
M/C	Miscarriage
MF	Male Factor Infertility
OHSS	Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome
OPK, or OPT	Ovulation Predictor Kit or Test
PCO/PCOS/PCOD	Polycystic Ovaries, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/Disease.
PG	Pregnant
PIO	Progesterone in Oil
POF/POI	Premature Ovarian Failure, or Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
PUPO	Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise, used after an embryo transfer or IUI cycle before a beta test to confirm pregnancy
RE	Reproductive Endocrinologist, a kind of fertility specialist.
RI	Reproductive Immunologist, another kind of fertility specialist.
RPL	Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
SART	Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies.
SHG	Sonohysterogram, a fertility test, also known as a water-sonogram
SD	Sperm Donor
SI	Secondary Infertility, you were able to have one child or more before infertility
SM	Surrogate Mother
SMBC	Single Mom By Choice
STIMS	Stimulating Hormones, usually referring to injectable fertility drugs
SubQ or SC	Subcutaneous Injection
2WW	Two Week Wait
TESE	Testicular Sperm Extraction
TTC	Trying to Conceive
TS	Traditional Surrogate
U/S	Ultrasound

Did I miss any? Comment below!