Starting IVF is like entering into a secret society where everyone talks in code. Visit any forum related to making bambinos and if it's your first foray into this world, an IVF jargon for Dummies would be a helpful accompaniment to get even the vaguest sense of what anyone is talking about.
So I'm writing this page for two reasons; firstly so I know what on earth people are saying with all these abbreviations, rather than feeling like I don't have the knowledge therefore I don't belong in this club, and secondly, in case there are any of you out there equally rabbit in the headlights with all the technical terms.
No doubt I will miss loads off so please feel free to leave a comment or tweet @TabithaRoseBlue with suggestions.
Thanks to Fertility Friends for the majority of these. Some of which - DN or anything else starting with Dear - I won't be using, as a) I am not a character in a Jane Austen novel, and b) I would feel like a right twonk referring to my other half as DH, or even OH, so it will probably be hubby. And BD...baby dancing (or sex to us grown ups), will not be used. What are we, 6? Okay, I'm done now. Promise.
2WW = 2 Week Wait (the nailbiting period between embryo transfer/ovulation/basting and pregnancy testing)
ADI - Anonymous Donor Insemination
AF / Aunt Flo = Menstrual cycle
AFM = As for me
ART - Assisted reproductive technology or technique
BBT - Basal body temperature
BCP/OCP - Birth control pills, oral contraceptives
BD - bd'ingBaby-dancing, sexual relations that are hoped to result in conception.
BFN / = Big Fat Negative
BFP / = Big Fat Positive
BMS = Baby Making Sex (see also DTD)
CM - Cervical Mucous
CCT - clomid challenge test, a diagnostic test in which clomiphene is used to gauge ovaries' response to FSH, thereby predicting the "health" of egg supply
CD - Cycle day, referring to which day of a woman's ovulatory cycle she is presently in
DE = Donor Egg
DFET = Donor Frozen Embryo Transfer
DH = Dear/Darling Husband
DI - Donor Insemination
DN = Dear Niece/ Nephew
DP = Dear Partner
DPD / DPO = Days past transfer / days past ovulation
DTD = Did The Deed (i.e intercourse)
DW = Dear Wife
DD = Dear Daughter
DS = Dear Son or Donor Sperm
DX = Diagnosis
D/R = Down Regulation (the first stage of long protocol IVF)
DPT or DPO = Days past transfer or Days past ovulation.
EC = Egg collection
EPU / EPAU = Early pregnancy (assessment) unit.
ET = Embryo Transfer
FET = Frozen Embryo Transfer
FSH = Follicle Stimulating Hormone
GIFT - Gamete intrafallopian transfer, assisted reproductive technique in which egg and sperm cells are retrieved and then deposited into fallopian tube, where it is hoped they meet and fertilize.
GYN - Refers to a gynecologist or gynecology
HCG - hCGhuman Chorionic Gonadotropin, the hormone emitted by human placenta, is what pregnancy tests measure. Also used in reference to medications that are comprised of the hormone and used during assisted reproductive techniques.
HPT - Home pregnancy test
HSG - Hysterosalpingogram, diagnostic test used to determine tubal patency
Hx - History, particularly medical
ICS - IIntra-cytoplasmic sperm injection, assisted reproductive technique in which a single sperm is injected via needle into an egg's membranes
IF - Infertility or infertile
IMHO - "in my honest (humble) opinion"
Injects - Any injectable fertility drugs
IUI - Intrauterine insemination
IVF - In vitro fertilization
KDI - Known donor insemination, referring to sperm donors who are known to the couple using the sperm
LH - Luteinizing hormone
LPD - Luteal phase defect
MC/m/c - Miscarriage
MF = Male Factor infertility
O'ing/Ov'ing/Ov - Ovulating or ovulation
OPK - Ovulation predictor kit
OTD = Official test day
Pee stick = Home Pregnancy Test
PG = Pregnant
PM = personal message (sometimes IM is used)
PUPO = Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise (i.e. on the 2ww)
Px - Prognosis
SA = Semen Analysis
Stims - Refers to phase of an IVF (or other ART) protocol in which a woman's ovaries are being stimulated to produce eggs through the use of fertility drugs.
TTC = Trying To Conceive
TX = Treatment
U/S - Ultrasound ZIFT - Zygote intrafallopian transfer, assisted reproductive technique in which pre-embryos are deposited into fallopian tube approximately one day after fertilization has occurred.
So I'm writing this page for two reasons; firstly so I know what on earth people are saying with all these abbreviations, rather than feeling like I don't have the knowledge therefore I don't belong in this club, and secondly, in case there are any of you out there equally rabbit in the headlights with all the technical terms.
No doubt I will miss loads off so please feel free to leave a comment or tweet @TabithaRoseBlue with suggestions.
Thanks to Fertility Friends for the majority of these. Some of which - DN or anything else starting with Dear - I won't be using, as a) I am not a character in a Jane Austen novel, and b) I would feel like a right twonk referring to my other half as DH, or even OH, so it will probably be hubby. And BD...baby dancing (or sex to us grown ups), will not be used. What are we, 6? Okay, I'm done now. Promise.
2WW = 2 Week Wait (the nailbiting period between embryo transfer/ovulation/basting and pregnancy testing)
ADI - Anonymous Donor Insemination
AF / Aunt Flo = Menstrual cycle
AFM = As for me
ART - Assisted reproductive technology or technique
BBT - Basal body temperature
BCP/OCP - Birth control pills, oral contraceptives
BD - bd'ingBaby-dancing, sexual relations that are hoped to result in conception.
BFN / = Big Fat Negative
BFP / = Big Fat Positive
BMS = Baby Making Sex (see also DTD)
CM - Cervical Mucous
CCT - clomid challenge test, a diagnostic test in which clomiphene is used to gauge ovaries' response to FSH, thereby predicting the "health" of egg supply
CD - Cycle day, referring to which day of a woman's ovulatory cycle she is presently in
DE = Donor Egg
DFET = Donor Frozen Embryo Transfer
DH = Dear/Darling Husband
DI - Donor Insemination
DN = Dear Niece/ Nephew
DP = Dear Partner
DPD / DPO = Days past transfer / days past ovulation
DTD = Did The Deed (i.e intercourse)
DW = Dear Wife
DD = Dear Daughter
DS = Dear Son or Donor Sperm
DX = Diagnosis
D/R = Down Regulation (the first stage of long protocol IVF)
DPT or DPO = Days past transfer or Days past ovulation.
EC = Egg collection
EPU / EPAU = Early pregnancy (assessment) unit.
ET = Embryo Transfer
FET = Frozen Embryo Transfer
FSH = Follicle Stimulating Hormone
GIFT - Gamete intrafallopian transfer, assisted reproductive technique in which egg and sperm cells are retrieved and then deposited into fallopian tube, where it is hoped they meet and fertilize.
GYN - Refers to a gynecologist or gynecology
HCG - hCGhuman Chorionic Gonadotropin, the hormone emitted by human placenta, is what pregnancy tests measure. Also used in reference to medications that are comprised of the hormone and used during assisted reproductive techniques.
HPT - Home pregnancy test
HSG - Hysterosalpingogram, diagnostic test used to determine tubal patency
Hx - History, particularly medical
ICS - IIntra-cytoplasmic sperm injection, assisted reproductive technique in which a single sperm is injected via needle into an egg's membranes
IF - Infertility or infertile
IMHO - "in my honest (humble) opinion"
Injects - Any injectable fertility drugs
IUI - Intrauterine insemination
IVF - In vitro fertilization
KDI - Known donor insemination, referring to sperm donors who are known to the couple using the sperm
LH - Luteinizing hormone
LPD - Luteal phase defect
MC/m/c - Miscarriage
MF = Male Factor infertility
O'ing/Ov'ing/Ov - Ovulating or ovulation
OPK - Ovulation predictor kit
OTD = Official test day
Pee stick = Home Pregnancy Test
PG = Pregnant
PM = personal message (sometimes IM is used)
PUPO = Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise (i.e. on the 2ww)
Px - Prognosis
SA = Semen Analysis
Stims - Refers to phase of an IVF (or other ART) protocol in which a woman's ovaries are being stimulated to produce eggs through the use of fertility drugs.
TTC = Trying To Conceive
TX = Treatment
U/S - Ultrasound ZIFT - Zygote intrafallopian transfer, assisted reproductive technique in which pre-embryos are deposited into fallopian tube approximately one day after fertilization has occurred.