Idiot’s Guide to Infertility Speak

Once you’ve been in the infertility world long enough, you start to speak in a different language. I know it looks ridiculous and nonsensical from the outside. Even I refuse to use some of the sillier acronyms out there. But, some abbreviations have a way of sneaking into your vocabulary. Here’s a cheat sheet of the terms I use in the blog:

BETA = quantitative HCG blood test (very accurate pregnancy test at the doctor)

BFN  = Big Fat Negative (a negative pregnancy test)

BFP = Big Fat Positive (a positive pregnancy test)

CD = cycle day in a menstrual cycle (so CD3 would be cycle day 3)

dpt = days post transfer (5dpt would be five days after an IVF embryo transfer)

dpiui = days post intrauterine insemination

FET = frozen embryo transfer

FRER = First Response Early Response (super sensitive brand of home pregnancy tests)

HSG = hysterosalpingogram

ICSI = intracytoplasmic sperm injection

IUI = intrauterine insemination

IVF = in vitro fertilization

monitoring = early morning bloodwork & ultrasound at the fertility clinic. Most clinics have set hours every morning (5:30-7:30 at my clinic) and it’s first come first serve.

PGS = preimplantation genetic screening

PIO = progesterone in oil (a type of injectable medication)

RE  – reproductive endocrinologist or fertility specialist

stimming/stims = ovarian stimulation or ovarian stimulating drugs (usually describes the first half of a fertility treatment cycle when you are doing nightly injections to stimulate your ovaries to create eggs)

trigger = trigger shot AKA an injection that causes you to ovulate in a certain time-frame

TTC = trying to conceive

TWW = two week wait AKA the agonizing waiting period between ovulation (or IVF retreival / or embryo transfer) and a pregnancy test