List of Common Infertility Abbreviations and Meanings

The ABC's of IVF

• 2WW -Two-week wait, that dreaded time between ovulation (and any conception attempts)
• 3dt-3 day transfer (IVF)
• 5dt-5 day transfer (IVF)
• ART -Assisted reproductive technology or technique
• B/W-Blood Work
• BBT -Basal body temperature
• BCP, OCP -Birth control pills, oral contraceptives
• Beta -Often refers to Beta hCG test (See hCG below)
• BFN-Big Fat Negative
• BFP-Big Fat Positive
• CCT, clomid challenge test
• CD -Cycle day, referring to which day of a woman's ovulatory cycle she is presently in
• Cryo -Cryopreservation, referring to the freezing of embryos, sperm, and occasionally, eggs for future use in IVF
• DP3DT-Days Past 3 Day Transfer (IVF)
• DP5DT-Days Past 5 Day Transfer (IVF)
• DPT-Days Past Tranfer (IVF)
• Dx -Diagnosis
• E2, estradiol
• ER, egg retrieval
• ET, egg transfer
• FSH -Follicle stimulating hormone. When used to refer to a means of determining possible ovarian failure, FSH refers to a blood test drawn on CD3. FSH is also used to refer to fertility medications that are comprised of either naturally-occurring or synthetic hormone.
• HCG, hCG -human Chorionic Gonadotropin, the hormone emitted by human placenta, is what pregnancy tests measure. Also used in reference to medications that are comprised of the hormone and used during assisted reproductive techniques.
• HPT -Home pregnancy test
• Hx -History, particularly medical
• IF -Infertility or infertile
• IVF-In vitro fertilization
• LAP-laparoscopic procedure
• LH -Luteinizing hormone
• LPD -Luteal phase defect
• MC, m/c -Miscarriage
• O'ing, Ov'ing, Ov -Ovulating or ovulation
• OPK -Ovulation predictor kit
• PCOS -Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• PG-Pregnant or pregnancy
• PIO-Progesterone Injection
• RE-Reproductive endocrinologist
• Stims-Refers to phase of an IVF (or other ART) protocol in which a woman's ovaries are being stimulated to produce eggs through the use of fertility drugs.
• TTC- trying to conceive
• TX- Treatment
• U/S - Ultrasound