I am discovering that there is a whole new
language relating to surrogacy on the internet. Just like any profession,
regular used terms are reduced to make communication more efficient. People seem to have an obsession with easy to use acronyms. For those that know what is going on it is great. For the rest of us
it can be a bit confronting, but interesting to learn this new “language”.
The one I like Frostie
= Frozen Embryo
A
Ridiculously Long List of Infertility Acronyms
A-E
2WW = 2-Week Wait (from insemination to
menstruation/pregnancy)
4WW = 4-Week Wait (from one insemination to
the next insemination)
47XXY = Klinefelter’s Syndrome
ACA = Anti-cardiolipin Antibodies
ACTH = Adrenal Corticotropic Hormone
AF = Aunt Flo (menstruation)
AH, AZH = Assisted Hatching
AHI = At-home Insemination
AI = Artificial Insemination
AI+ = Artificial Insemination with some
“assistance” from the recipient (not common)
AIH = Artificial Insemination from Husband
ANA = Anti-nuclear Antibodies
AO = Anovulation
AOA, AVA = Anti-ovarian Antibody
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
AWOL = A Woman On Lupron
B2 = Baby Two (mailing list)
BA = Baby Aspirin
BBT = Basal Body Temperature
BCP = Birth Control Pills
BD = Baby Dance (sex)
BFN = Big Fat Negative (pregnancy test
result)
BFP = Big Fat Positive (pregnancy test
result)
BG = Blood Glucose
BMS = Baby-making Sex
BSE = Breast Self-Exam
BT = Balanced Translocation
BW, b/w = Bloodwork
C# = Cycle Number
CAD = Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet
CAH = Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
CASA = Computer-assisted Semen Analysis
CB = Cycle Buddy CBAVD = Congenital
Bilateral Absence of the Vas Deferens
CCCT, CCT = Clomiphene Citrate Challenge
Test (Clomid Challenge Test)
CD = Cycle Day
CD56+ = Natural Killer Cells
CF = Cervical Fluid
CM = Cervical Mucus
CMV = Cytomegalovirus
CNM = Certified Nurse Midwife
COH = Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation
COW = Curse of Womanhood (menstruation)
CP = Cervical Position
CVS = Chorionic Villae Sampling
D&C = Dilation & Curettage
D&E = Dilation & Evacuation
DE = Donor Eggs
DES = Diethylstilbestrol (a synthetic
estrogen)
DHEAS = Dihydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
DI = Donor Insemination
DIPI = Direct Intra-peritoneal Insemination
DOST = Direct Oocyte-Sperm Transfer
DPO = Days Post-Ovulation
DPR = Days Post-Retrieval
DPT = Days Post-Transfer
DP3DT = Days Post 3-Day Transfer
DP3DT = Days Post 5-Day Transfer
Dx = Diagnosis
E2 = Estradiol
EB, EMB = Endometrial Biopsy
EDD = Estimated Due Date
ENDO = Endometriosis
EPO = Evening Primrose Oil
EPT = Early Pregnancy Test
ET = Embryo Transfer
ETF = Embryo Toxic Factor
ETA = Embryo Toxicity Assay
EW, EWCM = Egg-white Cervical Mucus
F-M
FBG = Fasting Blood Glucose
FET = Frozen Embryo Transfer
FHR = Fetal Heart Rate
FP = Follicular Phase
FSH = Follicle Stimulating Hormone
FTTA = Fertile Thoughts To All
FV = Fertile Vibes
FWW = 4-Week Wait (from one insemination to
the next insemination)
GD = Gestational Diabetes
GIFT = Gamete Intra-fallopian Transfer
GnRH = Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone
GP = General Practitioner
GTT = Glucose Tolerance Test
HbA1c = Glycosylated Hemoglobin (also
called Glycohemoglobin)
hCG, HCG = Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HCP = Health Care Practitioner
HEPA = Hamster Egg Penetration Assay
hMG, HMG = Human Menopausal Gonadotropin
HPT = Home Pregnancy Test
HRT = Hormone Replacement Therapy
HSC = Hysteroscopy
HSG = Hysterosalpingogram
IBT = Immunobead Binding Test
ICI = Intra-cervical Insemination
ICSI = Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection
IF = Infertility
IGTT = Insulin and Glucose Tolerance Test
IM = Intra-muscular (WRT injections)
IOR = Immature Oocyte Retrieval
IR = Insulin Resistant
ITI = Intra-tubal Insemination
IUFD = Intra-uterine Fetal Demise
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)
LO = Love Olympics (sex)
LP = Luteal Phase
LPD = Luteal Phase Defect
LSP = Low Sperm Count
LUF, LUFS = Luteinized Unruptured Follicle
Syndrome
MAI = Miscarriage After Infertility (mail
list)
MC, m/c, misc. = Miscarriage
MESA = Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm
Aspiration
MF = Male Factor
MIFT = Micro Injection Fallopian Transfer
N-Z
NEST = Non-surgical Embryonic Selective
Thinning
NI = Natural Insemination (ie sex)
NK = Natural Killer Cells (CD56+)
NORIF = Non-stimulated Oocyte Retrieval In
(office) Fertilization
NP = Nurse Practitioner
NSA = Non-surgical Sperm Aspiration
O, OV = Ovulation
OB = Obstetrician
OB/GYN = Obstetrician/Gynecologist
OC = Oral Contraceptives
OD = Ovulatory Dysfunction
OHSS = Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
OPK = Ovulation Predictor Kit
OPT = Ovulation Predictor Test
OTC = Over The Counter
OW = Overweight
P4 = Progesterone
PA = Physician’s Assistant
PAI-1 = Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1
PCAO= Polycystic Appearing Ovaries
PCO = Polycystic Ovaries
PCOD = Polycystic Ovary Disease
PCOS = Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
PCP = Primary Care Physician
PCT = Post Coital Test
PESA = Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm
Aspiration
PG = Pregnant
PGD = Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis
PI = “Partial” Insemination (The man enters
the woman just before ejaculation. This is sometimes also referred to shortened
or rapid intercourse. The idea behind it is to limit the duration of the actual
physical contact to the minimum). Not common.
PI = Primary Infertility
PID = Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PIO = Progesterone in Oil
PLI = Paternal Leukocyte Immunization
PMS = Pre-menstrual Syndrome
PNM = Perinatal Mortality
POC = Products of Conception
POF = Premature Ovarian Failure
PROM = Premature Rupture of Membranes
PTSD = Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PZD = Partial Zona Dissection
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
s/b, S/B = Stillbirth
SCORIF = Stimulated Cycle Oocyte Retrieval
In (office) Fertilization
SHG, SonoHSG = Sonohysterogram
SI = Secondary Infertility
SIS = Saline Injection Sonogram
SLE = Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
SMC = Single Mother by Choice
SPA = Sperm Penetration Assay
STD = Sexually Transmitted Disease
SUZI = Sub-zonal Insertion
T4 = Thyroxine
TEBG = Testosterone-Estradiol Binding
Globulin
TESA = Testicular Sperm Aspiration
TESE = Testicular Sperm Extraction
TET = Tubal Embryo Transfer
TL = Tubal Ligation
TNF = Tumor Necrosis Factor
TR = Tubal Reversal
TRH = Thyroid Releasing Hormone
TSH = Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
TTC = Trying to Conceive
TTCAR = Trying to Conceive after Reversal
TUFT = Trans-uterine Fallopian Transfer
TWW = Two Week Wait (from insemination to
menstruation/pregnancy)
Tx = Treatment
TYB = Test Yolk Buffer (used to preserve
the life of shipped sperm)
TZD = Thiazolidinediones
UR = Urologist
US, u/s = Ultrasound
UTI = Urinary Tract Infection
V = Vasectomy
VR = Vasectomy Reversal
WBC = White Blood Cells
WHR = Waist to Hip Ratio
WNL = Within Normal Limits
ZIFT = Zygote Intra-fallopian Transfer
Common Acronyms
AMAP = As Much As Possible
AFAIK = As Far As I Know
ASAP = As Soon As Possible
BB = Bulletin Board
BBL = Be Back Later
BBW = Big Beautiful Women
BTW = By The Way
DD = Dear Daughter, Darling Daughter
DH = Dear Husband, Darling Husband
DHAC = Don’t/Doesn’t Have A Clue
DITD = Down In The Dumps
DP = Dear Partner, Darling Partner
DS = Dear Son, Darling Son
DW = Dear Wife, Darling 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
LMK = Let Me Know
LOL = Laughing Out Loud (or Lots Of Luck)
MIL = Mother In-law (also FIL, SIL, BIL for
the others)
NBD = No Big Deal
NG = Newsgroup
OT = Off Topic
OTOH = On The Other Hand
PITA = Pain In The Ass
POA = Plan Of Action
POV = Point Of View
PV = Positive Vibes
ROTFL = Rolling On The Floor Laughing
ROTFLOL = Rolling On The Floor Laughing Out
Loud
ROTFLMAO = Rolling On The Floor Laughing My
A** Off
SO = Significant Other
TIA = Thanks In Advance
TTFN = Ta Ta For Now
TTYS = Talk To You Soon
TTYTT = To Tell You The Truth
WB = Welcome Back
WF = Warm Fuzzies
WRT = With Respect To
WWW = Wise Women of the Web
YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary
Links to sites that might help with this surrogacy lingo:
