If you’re new to the world of fertility treatments, surrogate mothers or egg, sperm and embryo donation, the first steps on your journey will no-doubt be daunting. There are many players in the field including fertility doctors, infertility counsellors, intended parents, egg and sperm and embryo donors, surrogate mothers, surrogacy and fertility lawyers, clinics, legislation, support groups and forums.
You will be consulting frequently with these players to map your steps, define your process and receive support, in-person, by phone and online. The online world is its own unique place. If you have already started searching for support resources or have participated in any online chats, you will likely have noticed the lingo, as there are a plethora of acronyms. From ABC to ZIFT, here are over 125 frequently used acronyms along with their meanings. Knowing these terms might help make the journey towards creating your family a lot more understandable. If you come across any you would like to add to the list, please leave a comment and let me know. I will certainly update the list.
Regards, Michelle
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| Acronym | Definition | Acronym | Definition |
| 2WW | 2-Week Wait | IUI | Intrauterine Insemination |
| ABC | Artificial Birth Control | LAP | Laparoscopy |
| AF | Aunt Flo -Your menstrual period | LH | Luteinizing Hormone |
| AI | Artificial Insemination | L&D | Labor and Delivery |
| AP | Adoptive Parents | LMP | Last Menstrual Period (start date) |
| ART | Assisted reproductive technology | LOK | Lots of Kids |
| AZH or AH | Assisted Hatching | LP | Luteal Phase |
| BBT | Basal Body Temperature | M/C | Miscarriage |
| BCP | Birth Control Pills | MFI | Male Factor Infertility |
| BETA | Blood test for Pregnancy | MAT LV | Maternity Leave |
| BFP | Big Fat Positive (found on HPT, and Betas) | M/S | Morning sickness |
| BFN | Big Fat Negative (these are no fun, also found on HPT’s & Betas) | MW | Midwife |
| BM | Birth Mom | NFP | Natural Family planning (To Pinpoint Ovulation) |
| BMI | Body Mass Index (measure of body fat based on height and weight) | NP | Nurse Practitioner |
| BT | Blood Test | NST | Non-Stress Test |
| B/W | Blood work | O | Ovulation |
| CB | Cycle Buddy (Women on the Same Menstrual Cycle) | O’ing | Ovulating |
| CD | Cycle day – The first day of your period is cycle day 1 | OB | Obstetrician |
| CF | Cervical Fluid | OB/GYN | Obstetrician/Gynecologist |
| CM | Cervical Mucus | OC | Oral Contraceptives |
| CNM | Certified Nurse Midwife | OPK | Ovulation Predictor Kit |
| CP | Cervical position | OPT | Ovulation Predictor Test |
| CTX | Contractions | P4 | Progesterone |
| CVS | Chorionic Villus Sampling | PED | Pediatrician |
| D&C | Dilation & Curettage (Surgical Procedure After Miscarriage) | PBO | Prebirth Order |
| D&E | Dilation & Evacuation (Surgical Procedure After Miscarriage) | POAS | Pee on a Stick (referring to a Home Pregnancy Test) |
| DE | Donor Egg/Donor Embryo | PCOS | Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome |
| DPO | Days Post Ovulation | PCOD | Poly-cystic Ovarian Disease |
| DPR | Days Post-Retrieval | PED | Potential Egg Donor |
| DP3DT | Days Post 3-Day Transfer | PG | Pregnant |
| DP5DT | Days Post 5-Day Transfer | PGD | Pre implantation genetic diagnosis |
| DPT | Days Post Transfer | PGS | Potential Gestational Surrogate |
| E2 | Estrogen | PI | Primary Infertility |
| ED | Egg donor/donation | PID | Pelvic Inflammatory Disease |
| EDD | Estimated Due Date | PIF | Potential Intended Father |
| eDET | Elective Double Embryo Transfer | PIM | Potential Intended Mother |
| ELV | Easy Labor Vibes | PIO | Progesterone in Oil |
| EML | Extended Maternity Leave | PIP | Potential Intended Parent |
| EPT | Early Pregnancy Test | PMS | Pre-menstrual Syndrome |
| ER | Retrieval (Egg) | POAS | Pee On A Stick (Use a Home Pregnancy Test) |
| eSET | Elective Single Embryo Transfer | PPD | Postpartum Depression |
| ET | Embryo Transfer | PROM | Premature Rupture of the Membranes |
| FAM | Family Awareness Method (For Pinpointing Ovulation) | PSM | Potential Surrogate Mother |
| FET | Frozen Embryo Transfer | PTL | Preterm Labor |
| FGS | Former Gestational Surrogate | PTS | Potential Traditional Surrogate |
| FHR | Fetal Heart Rate | RB | Rainbow babies |
| FIF | Former Intended Father | RE | Reproductive Endocrinologist |
| FIM | Former Intended Mother | RPL | Recurrent Pregnancy Loss |
| FIP | Former Intended Parents | RSA | Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion |
| FRED | Pregnancy Test Brand – First Response, Early Detection. Now called Early Result. | RUM | Are You Married? |
| FSH | Follicle Stimulating Hormone | RUS | Are You Single? |
| FSM | Former Surrogate Mother | Rx | Prescription |
| FMU | First Morning Urine | SA | Sperm/Semen Analysis |
| FTSHAM | Full-Time Stay-at-Home Mom | SAAF | Stay Away Aunt Flo |
| FTS | Former Traditional Surrogate | SAHD | Stay At Home Dad |
| FTWM | Full-Time Working Mom | SAHM | Stay At Home Mom |
| GC | Gestational Carrier | SAHP | Stay At Home Parent |
| GD | Gestational Diabetes | SAHW | Stay At Home Wife SD |
| GIFT | Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer | SD | Sperm Donor |
| GS | Gestational Surrogate | SM | Surrogate Mother |
| GTC | Going to Conceive | S/S | Signs/Symptoms |
| GTT | Glucose Tolerance Test | STD | Sexually Transmitted Disease |
| H&H9 | Happy and Healthy 9 Months/Pregnancy Congratulations | Stims | Medications used to stimulate the ovaries |
| HCG | Human Chorionic Gonadotropin | SubQ | Subcutaneous injection |
| HI | Home Insemination | TCOYF | Take Charge of Your Fertility |
| HPT | Home Pregnancy Test | TOK | Tons of Kids |
| HOM | High order multiples | TS | Traditional Surrogate |
| HSC | Hysteroscopy | TTA | Trying to Avoid Conception |
| HSG | Hysterosalpingogram | TTC | Trying To Conceive |
| Hx | History | U/S | Ultrasound |
| ICI | Intra-cervical Insemination | UTI | Urinary Tract Infection |
| ICSI | Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection | WAH | Work At Home |
| IF | Intended Father | WAHD | Work At Home Dad |
| IM | Intended Mother | WAHM | Work At Home Mom |
| IMO/IMHO | In my opinion/In my humble opinion | WAHP | Work At Home Parent |
| Indy/Independent | Working without an agency | WBC | White Blood Cells |
| Indy | Independent Surrogacy Journey, You don’t use an agency. | WD | Working Dad |
| Insems | Artificial Insemination | WOHD | Working Out of Home Dad |
| IP | Intended parent/parents | WOHM | Working Out of Home Mom |
| ITI | Intratubal Insemination | X-AFP | Expanded Alpha-Protein Test |
| ISA | Independent Surrogacy Arrangement | ZIFT | Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer |
| IVF | In Vitro Fertilization |
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