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Saburah Amatullah

Fertility Language Explained



The world of fertility and infertility can be a daunting place. With so much new information to take in, communities and forums to join it can become overwhelming and then on top of that there's so many abbreviations its like learning a new language. So here's a list to help you understand the most common acronyms:



2WW: Two week wait (before testing or waiting for your period)


AF: Aunt Flo, your period.


AI: Artificial Insemination.


AO: Anovulation. No ovulation detected.


ART: Assisted Reproductive Technology.


BBT: Basal Body Temperature. The method of using a thermometer to track your cycles and ovulation.


BCP: Birth Control Pills. Oral contraception


BD: Baby Dance. Having intercourse to conceive.


BF: Breastfeeding.


BFN: Big Fat Negative (pregnancy test)


BFP: Big Fat Positive (pregnancy test)


CD: Cycle Day


CL: Coverline. Used in BBT cycle monitoring


CM: Cervical mucous, also known as cervical fluid, cervical secretions or female discharge. It is fluid produced by your cervix as you approach ovulation due to increased oestrogen levels.


CP: Cervical Position


D&C: Dilation and Currettage. A medical procedure to remove tissue (miscarriage) from inside the uterus.


DE: Donor Eggs.


DH, DD, DS: Dear Husband, Dear Daughter, Dear Son


DI: Donor Insemination.


DOR: Diminished Ovarian Reserve.


DPO: Days Past Ovulation


EDD: Estimated Due Date


ENDO: Endometriosis


EPO: Evening Primrose Oil


ET: Embryo Transfer


EWCM: Eggwhite cervical mucous. The cervical mucous that occurs at peak fertile time.


FM: Fertility Monitor.


FSH: Follicle Stimulating Hormone


GnRH: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone


GP: General practitioner (doctor)


HPT: Home pregnancy test. Measures levels of the hormone hcG which are produced in pregnancy.


HCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. Hormone detected by pregnancy tests


HSC: Hysteroscopy. A procedure to examine the inside of the uterus.


HSG: Hystrosalpingogram. A procedure to examine the patency of the fallopian tubes.


IF: Infertility


IR: Insulin Resistance


IUI: Intra-uterine insemination


IVF: In-vitro fertilization


LAP: Laparoscopy. A medical procedure to internally examine the abdomen and pelvis.


LH: Luteinizing Hormone


LMP: The first day of your last period.


LUFS: Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome


LP: Luteal Phase


LPD: Luteal Phase Defect


M/C: Miscarriage


NHS: National Health Service


O: Ovulation


OB: Obstetrician, also known as OBGYN, Obstetric Gynaecologist.


OC: Oral contraceptives.


OHSS: Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome


OPK: Ovulation Prediction Kit or Ovulation tests . OPKs measure luteinizing hormone but are not always reliable in women with PCOS.


PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.


PCO: As above but without the syndrome.


PID: Pelvic inflammatory Disease.


POAS: Pee on a stick.


POC: Products of conception. A medical term for the tissue passed or medically removed following a miscarriage.


POF: Premature Ovarian Failure


RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist- Fertility Specialist


SA: Semen Analysis. Sperm test.


SI: Secondary Infertility. Problems conceiving after a woman has successfully carried a pregnancy to term previously.


STI: Sexually Transmitted Infection.


TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone


TTC: Trying to conceive.


UTI: Urinary Tract Infection


V: Vasectomy.


VR: Vasectomy reversal

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