Commonly Used Surrogacy and Infertility Terms
Message boards can be confusing when you’re new to the scene, so for your benefit we’ve compiled a list of many commonly used terms within the surrogacy and infertility community to help you learn the lingo!
· 2ww: 2 week wait – the time from transfer to the first doctor issued pregnancy test
A
· ACA: Anticardiolipin Antibodies
· ACTH: Adrenal Corticotropic Hormone
· AF: Aunt Flo aka Menstrual Period
· AFP: Alpha-Fetoprotein Test
· AHI: At-home Insemination
· AI: Artificial Insemination
· ART: Assisted Reproductive Technology
· ASRM: American Society of Reproductive Medicine
· ATA: Antithyroid Antibody
· AVA: Antiovarian Antibody
· AZH: Assisted Hatching
B
· BBT: Basal Body Temperature
· BCP: Birth Control Pills
· BFN: Big Fat Negative (as in Negative Pregnancy Test)
· BFP: Big Fat Positive (as in Positive Pregnancy Test)
· BG: Blood Glucose
· BT: Blood Test
· BW: Blood Work
C
· CB: Cycle Buddy (Women on the Same Menstrual Cycle)
· CBE: ClearBlueEasy – a Pregnancy test
· CCCT: Clomiphene Citrate Challenge (Clomid Challenge)
· CD: Cycle Day (Day of Menstrual Cycle; The First Day of A Period Is Day 1)
· CF: Cervical Fluid
· CM: Cervical Mucus
· CMV: Cytomegalovirus
· CNM: Certified Nurse Midwife
· COH: Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation
· CP: Cervical position
· CVS: Chorionic Villus Sampling
D
· D&C: Dilation and Curretage (Surgical Procedure After Miscarriage)
· D&E: Dilation and Evacuation (Surgical Procedure After Miscarriage)
· DE: Donor Egg
· DH/DW/DS/DD: Dear Husband/Wife/Son/Daughter
· DPO: Day Past Ovulation
· DPR: Days Past Retrieval
· DP3DT: Days Post 3-Day Transfer
· DP5DT: Days Post 5-Day Transfer
· DPT: Days Post Transfer
· DX: Diagnosis
E
· E2: Estradiol
· EB/EMB: Endometrial biopsy
· ED: Egg Donor/Donation
· EDD: Estimated Delivery/Due Date
· ELV: Easy Labor Vibes
· EML: Extended Maternity Leave
· ENDO: Endometriosis
· EPT: Early Pregnancy Test
· ET: Embryo Transfer
· EWCM: Egg White Cervical Mucus
F
· FAM: Family Awareness Method (For Pinpointing Ovulation)
· FBG: Fasting Blood Glucose
· FET: Frozen Embryo Transfer
· FHR: Fetal Heart Rate
· FIF: Former Intended Father
· FIM: Former Intended Mother
· FIP: Former Intended Parent
· FMU: First Morning Urine
· FRER: First Response Early Result (Pregnancy Test)
· FX: Fingers Crossed
G
· GC: Gestational Carrier
· GD: Gestational Diabetes
· GS: Gestational Surrogate
· GTC: Going to Conceive
· GTT: Glucose Tolerance Test
H
· H&H9: Happy and Healthy 9 Months/Pregnancy Congratulations
· HCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
· HGB: Hemoglobin
· HOM: High Order Multiples
· HPT: Home Pregnancy Test
· HSC: Hysteroscopy
· HSG: Hysterosalpingogram
· HTH: Hope That Helps
· Hx: History
I
· ICI: Intra-cervical Insemination
· ICSI: Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection
· IF: Infertility/Intended Father aka Father-to-be
· IM: Intended Mother aka Mother-to-be
· Indy: Independent, Working without an agency
· Insems: Artificial Insemination
· IP: Intended Parent – parent-to-be via surrogacy
· ITI: Intra-tubal Insemination
· ISA: Independent Surrogacy Arrangement
· IUI: Intrauterine Insemination
· IVF: In Vitro fertilization
J
K
L
· LAP: Laparoscopy
· L&D: Labor and Delivery
· LMP: Last Menstrual Period
· LP: Luteal Phase
· LPD: Luteal Phase Defect
M
· MAT LV: Maternity Leave
· MC or M/C: Miscarriage
· MFI: Male Factor Infertility
· MO: Months old
· MS: Morning Sickness
· MW: Midwife
N
· NFP: Natural Family planning (To Pinpoint Ovulation)
· NP: Nurse Practitioner
· NST: Non-Stress Test
O
· O: Ovulation
· O’ing: Ovulating
· OB: Obstetrician
· OB/GYN: Obstetrician/Gynecologist
· OLV: Open Legs Vibe (To See Gender During Ultrasound)
· OPK: Ovulation Predictor Kits
· OPT: Ovulation Predictor Test
· OTC: Over the Counter
P
· PBO: Pre-Birth Order
· PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
· PED: Pediatrician
· PG: Pregnant
· PGD: Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis – testing the embryos before transfer to check for abnormalities
· PI: Primary Infertility
· PID: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
· PIF: Potential Intended Father
· PIM: Potential Intended Mother
· PIO: Progesterone in Oil
· PIP: Potential Intended Parent
· PMS: Premenstrual Syndrome
· POAS: Pee On A Stick (Use a Home Pregnancy Test)
· PPD: Postpartum Depression
· PROM: Premature Rupture of the Membranes
· PTL: Preterm Labor
Q
R
· RBC: Red Blood Cell
· RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist
· RPL: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
· RSA: Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
S
· SAAF: Stay Away Aunt Flo
· SAHD: Stay At Home Dad
· SAHM: Stay At Home Mom
· SCH: Subchronic Hematoma/ Subchronic Hemorrhage – the most common reason for first trimester bleeding – a pooling of blood between the membrane surrounding the embryo and the uterine wall.
· SD: Sperm Donor
· SET: Single Embryo Transfer
· SHG: Sonohysterogram – a saline solution ultrasound
· SHOW: Soft High Open Wet (Condition of Cervix During Ovulation)
· SI: Secondary Infertility
· SO: Significant Other
· STD: Sexually Transmitted Disease
· SubQ: Subcutaneous Injection
· SW: Social Worker
T
· TS: Traditional Surrogacy
· TTC: Trying to Conceive
· Tx: Treatment
U
· US: Ultrasound
· UTI: Urinary Tract Infection
V
· VBAC: Vaginal Birth after Cesarean
· VBA2C: Vaginal Birth after 2 Cesareans
W
· WAH: Work At Home
· WAHD: Work At Home Dad
· WAHM: Work At Home Mom
· WAHP: Work At Home Parent
· WBC: White Blood Cells
· WD: Working Dad
X
· X-AFP: Expanded Alpha-Protein Test
Y
· YMMV: Your Mileage May Vary
Z