When TTC (trying to conceive), fertility forums and other social media groups can be a huge support network to talk about what you’re going through. Understanding online fertility language and commonly used terms and abbreviations can help you to feel more in the know and save you typing time.

We’ve put together an essential guide with some of the abbreviations and definitions of the online fertility language for you to you get started with the lingo!

AF: Aunt Flo - your period or menstruation cycle.

AH or AZH: Assisted Hatching - an IVF technology.

AI: Artificial Insemination - a fertility treatment method.

AO: Anovulatory - when ovulation doesn’t occur.

ART: Assisted Reproductive Technology – medical procedures used to address infertility.

BBT: Basal Body Temperature - the recording of your lowest body temperature to predict ovulation.

BD: Baby Dance - a term for having sex when trying to conceive.

BFN: Big Fat Negative - a negative result on a pregnancy test.

BFP: Big Fat Positive - a positive result on a pregnancy test.

BA: Baby Aspirin – a low dose aspirin sometimes used for fertility.

BCP: Birth Control Pills.

Beta: A blood test that measures the levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG.

BMS: Baby Making Sex - a term for having sex when trying to conceive.

BOB: Baby on the Brain - thinking about having a baby all the time.

BW: Blood Work – various blood tests.

Baby dust: a way of wishing good luck for the conception journey.

CD: Cycle Day - the first day of your period is CD1.

CF or CM: Cervical Fluid or Cervical Mucus - fluid or gel-like discharge from the cervix.

CP: Cervical Position - the position of your cervix.

CP: Chemical pregnancy - a very early miscarriage.

DE: Donor Eggs – an egg that has been donated by another woman.

DI: Donor Insemination - an IUI with a sperm donor.

DTD: Doing the Deed or Doing the Dance - a term for having sex when trying to conceive.

DH / DD / DS: Darling Husband, Darling Daughter or Darling Son.

DPO: Days Past Ovulation – the number of days since ovulation.

DPR: Days Past Retrieval - the number of days since egg retrieval during IVF treatment.

DPT: Days Past Transfer - the number of days after embryo transfer in an IVF treatment. For example, 10dp5dt refers to being 10 days past a 5 day transfer i.e. being 10 days past the transfer of an embryo that was 5 days old when it was transferred.

E2: Estradiol - a hormone sometimes measured during fertility testing and treatment.

EB, EMB: Endometrial Biopsy – a medical procedure examining the lining of the uterus.

EDD: Estimated Due / Delivery Date.

ET: Embryo Transfer – transfer of an embryo during IVF treatment.

ENDO: Endometriosis - condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

EWCM: Egg White Cervical Mucus - the most fertile kind of cervical mucus.

FMU: First Morning Urine - when taking a pregnancy test it is usually more sensitive with FMU as it usually contains the highest levels of hCG.

FE: Frozen Embryo – an embryo that is frozen during IVF treatment.

FET: Frozen Embryo Transfer - an IVF cycle using previously frozen embryos that have been thawed and then transferred.

FM: Fertility Monitor - used to detect ovulation at home.

FP: Follicular Phase - the phase of the menstrual cycle when follicles mature in the ovary.

FSH: Follicle Stimulating Hormone – the hormone stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles in the ovary before the release of an egg from one follicle at ovulation.

hCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin - a hormone that is created during pregnancy.

HPT: Home Pregnancy Test – a pregnancy test that you can buy from your pharmacy.

HSG: Hysterosalpingogram – an x-ray procedure used to see whether the fallopian tubes are open and if the inside of the uterus is normal.

ICSI: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection - procedure in which a single sperm cell is injected directly into the cytoplasm of an egg.

IR: Insulin Resistance - when cells in your body don't respond well to insulin and can't use glucose from your blood for energy, associated with PCOS.

IUI: Intrauterine Insemination - a fertility treatment where sperm are placed directly into a woman's uterus.

IVF: In Vitro Fertilization - a process of fertilisation where an egg is combined with sperm outside the body.

LAP: Laparoscopy - surgical diagnostic procedure used to examine the organs inside the abdomen.

LH: Luteinizing Hormone – a hormone that triggers ovulation.

LMP: Last Menstrual Period – usually the date of the first day of your last period.

LPD: Luteal Phase Defect – the luteal phase is the latter phase of the menstrual cycle. LPD can occur if the ovaries don’t produce enough progesterone during this phase, or if the uterus lining doesn’t grow properly.

LSC: Low Sperm Count - where a man has fewer than 15 million sperm per millilitre of semen.

MS: Morning Sickness (or all-day sickness!)

MC: Miscarriage - an event that results in the loss of a fetus before 20 weeks of pregnancy.

NP/NPP: Not Preventing Pregnancy - not using methods of birth control to prevent pregnancy.

NTNP: Not Trying Not Preventing: not actively trying for pregnancy, but at the same time not preventing pregnancy through birth control.

O: Ovulation – release of an egg by the ovaries.

OHSS: Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome - excessive response to taking the medicines (especially injectable gonadotropins) used to make eggs grow during fertility treatments.

OPK/ OPT: Ovulation Predictor Kit or Test – Home tests to predict ovulation

POAS: Pee on a Stick - taking a home pregnancy test or ovulation test by testing it with urine.

PCO/ PCOS: Polycystic Ovaries or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – a hormonal disorder where the ovaries may fail to regularly release eggs.

PG: Pregnant.

PGD: Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis - testing of pre-implantation stage embryos or oocytes for genetic defects.

PI: Primary Infertility - infertility without any previously born children.

PID: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - an infection of one or more of the upper reproductive organs, including the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

PIO: Progesterone in Oil – an injection that is given to replace the hormone when your body is not making enough of it.

PNV: Prenatal Vitamin - supplements that contain daily vitamins and minerals you need before and during your pregnancy.

POF/ POI: Premature Ovarian Failure or Primary Ovarian Insufficiency - when the ovaries stop functioning normally before age 40.

PUPO: Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise – a positive mindset that women choose to keep after undergoing fertility treatment or timed intercourse, before taking a pregnancy test to confirm whether pregnancy has occurred.

Rainbow Baby: a term for a child born to a family that has previously lost a child due to miscarriage, stillbirth or death during infancy.

RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist - a type of fertility specialist.

SA: Semen Analysis - evaluates certain characteristics of a male's semen and the sperm contained, to evaluate male fertility.

SHG: Sonohysterogram - imaging study of the uterus.

SI: Secondary Infertility - the inability to become pregnant or to carry a baby to term after previously giving birth to a baby.

STIMS: Stimulating Hormones - usually referring to injectable fertility drugs like gonadotropins.

SOD: Sex on Demand - sex on schedule or during fertility treatment.

TTC: Trying To Conceive - actively trying to get pregnant.

2WW: Two Week Wait – the waiting period between fertility treatment or actively ttc and a pregnancy test.

TESE: Testicular Sperm Extraction - the surgical procedure of removing a small portion of tissue from the testicle and extracting any viable sperm cells from that tissue for use in fertility treatments.

TL: Tubal Ligation – a permanent type of birth control, also known as having your tubes tied or tubal sterilization.

U/S: Ultrasound.

VR: Vasectomy Reversal - surgery to undo a vasectomy.

We hope that this list helps you to navigate fertility forums with more confidence! In the meantime, if you’re not sure what a forum member is saying don’t be shy about asking what they mean – everyone was a newbie at some point 😊