In the world of infertility there are many acronyms for pretty much everything. PVED has put together a rather long list of acronyms that we hope you find helpful.
These have been organized in alphabetical order.
2WW | Two week wait |
16dp3dt | 16 days past 3 day transfer |
ACA | Anti-cardiolipin Antibodies |
ACTH | Adrenal Corticotropic Hormone |
AF | Aunt Flo (menstruation) |
AFA | American Fertility Association |
AH, AZH | Assisted Hatching |
AHR | Assisted Human Reproduction |
AI | Artificial Insemination |
ANA | Anti-nuclear Antibodies |
APA | Anti-phospholipid Antibodies |
APTT | Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time |
ART | Assisted Reproductive Technology |
ASA | Anti-sperm Antibody |
ASRM | American Society of Reproductive Medicine |
ATA | Anti-thyroid Antibody |
AVA | Anti-ovarian Antibody |
BBT | Basal Body Temperature |
BCP | Birth Control Pills |
BMS | Baby-making Sex |
BD | Baby Dust |
BD | Baby Dance (sexual intercourse) |
Beta | hCG level blood test |
BFP/BFN | Big Fat Positive/Negative |
BMI | Body Mass Index |
CAD | Carbohydrate Addict's Diet |
CAH | Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia |
CASA | Computer-assisted Semen Analysis |
CCCT | Clomiphene Citrate Challenge Test (Clomid Challenge) |
CD | Cycle Day |
CD56+ | Natural Killer Cells |
CF | Cervical Fluid |
COH | Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation |
CM | Cervical Mucus |
CMV | Cytomegalovirus |
CNM | Certified Nurse Midwife |
CVS | Chorionic Villus Sampling |
D&C | Dilation & Curettage |
D&E | Dilation & Evacuation |
DE | Donor Eggs |
DES | Diethylstilbestrol (a synthetic estrogen) |
DHEAS | Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate |
DI | Donor Insemination |
DIPI | Direct Intraperitoneal Insemination |
DOST | Direct Oocyte-Sperm Transfer |
DPO | Days Post-ovulation |
Dx | Diagnosis |
E2 | Estradiol |
EB, | EMB Endometrial Biopsy |
EDD | Estimated Due Date |
ENDO | Endometriosis |
EPT | Early Pregnancy Test |
ER | Embryo Retrieval/Transfer |
ET | Embryo Transfer |
ETF | Embryo Toxic Factor |
ETA | Embryo Toxicity Assay |
FET | Frozen Embryo Transfer |
FHR | Fetal Heart Rate |
FSH | Follicle Stimulating Hormone |
FTTA | Fertile Thoughts To All |
GIFT | Gamete Intra-fallopian Transfer |
GnRH | Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone |
GP | General Practitioner |
hCG, | HCG Human Chorionic Gonadotropin |
HCP | Health Care Practitioner |
HEPA | Hamster Egg Penetration Assay |
hMG, | HMG Human Menopausal Gonadotropin |
HP | Hannah's Prayer (Christian infertility / pregnancy loss group) |
HPT | Home Pregnancy Test |
HRT | Hormone Replacement Therapy |
HSG | Hysterosalpingogram |
IBT | Immunobead Binding Test |
ICI | Intra-cervical Insemination |
ICSI | Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection |
IF | Infertility |
IM | Intra-muscular (WRT injections) |
INCIID | International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination |
IOR | Immature Oocyte Retrieval |
ITI | Intra-tubal Insemination |
IUGR | Intra-uterine Growth Retardation |
IUI | Intra-uterine Insemination |
IVC | Intra-vaginal Culture |
IVF | In Vitro Fertilization |
IVIg | Intravenous Immunoglobulin |
LAD | Leukocyte Antibody Detection Assay |
LAP | Laparoscopy |
LH | Luteinizing Hormone |
LIT | Leukocyte Immunization Therapy |
LMP | Last Menstrual Period (start date) |
LPD | Luteal Phase Defect |
LUF, LUFS | Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome |
MAI | Miscarriage After Infertility |
MC, m/c, misc. | Miscarriage |
MESA | Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration |
MFS | Maternal Fetal Specialist |
MIFT | Micro Injection Fallopian Transfer |
MMR | Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine |
MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
NEST | Non-surgical Embryonic Selective Thinning |
NK | Natural Killer Cells (CD56+) |
NORIF | Non-stimulated Oocyte Retrieval In (office) Fertilization |
NP | Nurse Practitioner |
NSA | Non-surgical Sperm Aspiration |
OB | Obstetrician |
OB/GYN | Obstetrician/Gynecologist |
OHSS | Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome |
OPK | Ovulation Predictor Kit |
OTC | Over The Counter |
PA | Physician's Assistant |
PCO, PCOD | Polycystic Ovary Disease |
PCOS | Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome |
PCP | Primary Care Physician |
PCT | Post Coital Test |
PERI | Perinatologist (Maternal Fetal Specialist) |
PESA | Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration |
PG | Pregnant |
PI | Primary Infertility |
PID | Pelvic Inflammatory Disease |
PLI | Paternal Leukocyte Immunization |
PMS | Pre-menstrual Syndrome |
POC | Products of Conception |
POF | Premature Ovarian Failure |
PROM | Premature Rupture of Membranes |
PTSD | Post-traumatic Stress Disorder |
PVED | Parents Via Egg Donation |
RE | Reproductive Endocrinologist |
R-FSH, R-hFSH | Recombinant Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone |
RI | Reproductive Immunologist |
RIP | Reproductive Immunophynotype |
ROS | Reactive Oxygen Species |
RPL | Recurrent Pregnancy Loss |
RSA | Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion |
Rx | Prescription |
SPA | Sperm Penetration Assay |
SA | Semen Analysis |
SART | Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology |
SCORIF | Stimulated Cycle Oocyte Retrieval In (office) Fertilization |
SI | Secondary Infertility |
SLE | Systemic Lupus Erythematosus |
SPA | Sperm Penetration Assay |
STD | Sexually Transmitted Disease |
SUZI | Sub-zonal Insertion |
TeBG | Testosterone-estradiol-binding Globulin |
TESA | Testicular Sperm Aspiration |
TESE | Testicular Sperm Extraction |
TET | Tubal Embryo Transfer |
TNF | Tumor Necrosis Factor |
TORCH | Toxoplasmosis, Other, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes test |
TRH | Thyroid-releasing Hormone |
TSH | Thyroid Stimulating Hormone |
TUFT | Trans-uterine Fallopian Transfer |
Tx | Treatment |
US, u/s | Ultrasound |
UTI | Urinary Tract Infection |
WBC | White Blood Cells |
ZIFT | Zygote Intra-fallopian Transfer |
General Internet Abbreviations | |
AFAIK | As Far As I Know |
AOL | America Online |
BTW | By The Way |
CGU | Can't Get Up (as in "I've fallen and can't get up") |
CYA | Cover Your Ass |
DD, DS | Dear Daughter, Dear Son |
DH | Dear Husband, Darling Husband, Designated Hitter, Damn Husband |
DHAC | Don't/Doesn't Have A Clue |
DITD | Down In The Dumps |
DW | Dear Wife, Darling Wife, Damn Wife |
FAQ | Frequently Asked Question(s) |
FWIW | For What It's Worth |
HTH | Hope This Helps |
IIRC | If I Recall/Remember Correctly |
IMHO | In My Humble Opinion, In My Honest Opinion |
IMO | In My Opinion |
IRC | Internet Relay Chat |
JK | Just Kidding |
KWIM | Know What I Mean? |
LOL | Laughing Out Loud |
MIL | Mother In-law (also FIL, SIL, BIL for the others) |
NBD | No Big Deal |
NG | Newsgroup |
OTOH | On The Other Hand |
POA | Plan Of Action |
POV | Point Of View |
ROTFL | Rolling On The Floor Laughing |
ROTFLOL | Rolling On The Floor Laughing Out Loud |
ROTFLMAO | Rolling On The Floor Laughing My ASS Off |
SO | Significant Other |
TIA | Thanks In Advance |
TTFN | Ta Ta For Now |
TTYS | Talk To You Soon |
WRT | With Respect To |
YMMV | Your Mileage May Vary |