Fertility Lingo

When we first started to peruse all of the blogs, we were lost in the lingo. Who am I kidding? We are STILL lost. If you are lost as well, here is some help for you.


2WW Two-week wait

A/F Aunt Flo (your period)

AH Assisted hatching

AI Artificial insemination

AIH Artificial insemination by husband

ART Assisted reproductive technique

BBT Basal body temperature

BCP Birth control pills

BD Baby dance (sex)

BET Blastocyst embryo transfer

BFN Big fat negative

BFP Big fat positive

BICA British Infertility Counselling Association

CBAVD Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens

CD Cycle day

CM Cervical mucus

CP Cervical position

CVS Chorionic villae sampling

D&C Dilation and curettage

DE Donor eggs

DI Donor insemination

DPO Days post-ovulation

DPR Days post-retrieval

DPT Days post-transfer

EC Egg collection 

EDD Estimated due date

ENDO Endometriosis

EPO Evening primrose oil

ERPC Evacuation of retained products of conception

ET Embryo transfer

EWCM Eggwhite cervical mucus

FER Frozen embryo replacement

FET Frozen embryo transfer

FP Follicular phase

FSH Follicle stimulating hormone

GIFT Gamete intra-fallopian transfer

H/B Heartbeat

HCG Human chorionic gonadotropin

HFEA Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority

HPT Home pregnancy test

HRT Hormone replacement therapy

HSC Hysteroscopy

HSG Hysterosalpinogram

ICSI Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection

I N UK Infertility Network UK 

IPS Imaginary pregnancy symptoms

IUI Intra-uterine insemination

IVF In vitro fertilisation

LAH Laser assisted hatching

LAP Laparoscopy

LH Luteinising hormone

LMP Last menstrual period

LP Luteal phase

LPD Luteal phase defect

MA Miscarriage association

M/C Miscarriage

MESA Microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration

M/W Midwife

NIAC National Infertility Awareness Campaign

OI Ovulation induction

OV Ovulation

OHSS Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

OPK Ovulation predictor kit

PCO Polycystic ovaries

PCOS Polycystic ovary syndrome

PCT Post-coital test

PESA Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration

PG Pregnant

PUPOPregnant Until Proven Otherwise

PI Primary infertility

PID Pelvic inflammatory disease

PMS Pre-menstrual syndrome

POF Premature ovarian failure

SA Sperm analysis

SANDS Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society

S/B Stillbirth

SI Secondary infertility

STD Sexually transmitted disease

TESA Testicular sperm aspiration

TET Tubal embryo transfer

TTC Trying to conceive

U/S Ultrasound