The world of infertility and IVF is bit of a mystery to most and it is full of a weird language that only initiates seem to understand. If you’re new to the whole thing, the jargon can all seem a bit overwhelming, especially when the Frequent Flyers are throwing around a lot of acronyms that don’t seem to make any sense at all. I found a short list of commonly used acronyms for IVF and infertility terms, and amended it by adding in quite a few that we use at my clinic, and that I see regularly used on the various forums and infertility support groups. Hopefully if anyone stumbles onto this list, feeling lost with all the lingo, this might help somewhat – though at the end of the day, Google is your friend.
2WW = 2-Week Wait
AH, AZH = Assisted Hatching
AHI = At-home Insemination
AI = Artificial Insemination
AIH = Artificial Insemination from Husband
ART = Assisted Reproductive Technology
ASA = Anti-sperm Antibody
ASRM = American Society of Reproductive Medicine
BA = Baby Aspirin
BBT = Basal Body Temperature
BCP = Birth Control Pills
BFN = Big Fat Negative
BFP = Big Fat Positive
BG = Blood Glucose
BW, b/w = Bloodwork
CASA = Computer-assisted Semen Analysis
CD = Cycle Day
CF = Cervical Fluid
CM = Cervical Mucus
CNM = Certified Nurse Midwife
COH = Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation
CPFM = ClearPlan Fertility Monitor
CVS = Chorionic Villae Sampling
D&C = Dilation & Curettage
D&E = Dilation & Evacuation
DE = Donor Eggs
DI = Donor Insemination
DOR = Diminished Ovarian Reserve
DOST = Direct Oocyte-Sperm Transfer
DPO = Days Post-Ovulation
DPR = Days Post-Retrieval
DPT = Days Post-Transfer
Dx = Diagnosis
E2 = Estradiol
EB, EMB = Endometrial Biopsy
ED= Egg Donor
EDD = Estimated Due Date
EPT = Early Pregnancy Test
ER=Egg Retrival
ET = Embryo Transfer
FBG = Fasting Blood Glucose
FI = Fasting Insulin
FET = Frozen Embryo Transfer
FHR = Fetal Heart Rate
FP = Follicular Phase
FS = Fertility Specialist
FSH = Follicle Stimulating Hormone
GC=Gestational Carrier
GD = Gestational Diabetes
GIFT = Gamete Intra-fallopian Transfer
GnRH = Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone
GP = General Practitioner
GTT = Glucose Tolerance Test
GS= Gestational Surrogate
hCG, HCG = Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HCP = Health Care Practitioner
HPT = Home Pregnancy Test
HRT = Hormone Replacement Therapy
HSC = Hysteroscopy
HSG = Hysterosalpingogram
ICI = Intra-cervical Insemination
ICSI = Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection
IF = Infertility
IF= Intended Father
IGTT = Insulin and Glucose Tolerance Test
IM = Intra-muscular (WRT injections)
IM= Intended Mother
IOR = Immature Oocyte Retrieval
IP= Intended Parents
IR = Insulin Resistant
ITI = Intra-tubal Insemination
IUI = Intra-uterine Insemination
IVC = Intra-vaginal Culture
IVF = In Vitro Fertilization
LAP = Laparoscopy
LH = Luteinizing Hormone
LMP = Last Menstrual Period (start date)
LP = Luteal Phase
LPD = Luteal Phase Defect
LSCD = Lower Section Caesarian Delivery
LSP = Low Sperm Count
MC, m/c, misc. = Miscarriage
MF = Male Factor
MIFT = Micro Injection Fallopian Transfer
MMR = Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine
MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging
NEST = Non-surgical Embryonic Selective Thinning
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
OPK Ovulation Predictor Kit
OPSS = Overweight & Pregnant Support (mail list)
OPT = Ovulation Predictor Test
OTC = Over The Counter
P4 = Progesterone
PA = Physician’s Assistant
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 = Primary Infertility
PID = Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PIO = Progesterone in Oil
PMS = Pre-menstrual Syndrome
PNM = Perinatal Mortality
POC = Products of Conception
POF = Premature Ovarian Failure
PROM = Premature Rupture of Membranes
PTLS = Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome
RE = Reproductive Endocrinologist
R-FSH, R-hFSH = Recombinant Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone
RI = Reproductive Immunologist
RPL = Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
RSA = Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
Rx = Prescription
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
SM= Surrogate Mother
STD = Sexually Transmitted Disease
TESA = Testicular Sperm Aspiration
TESE = Testicular Sperm Extraction
TET = Tubal Embryo Transfer
TL = Tubal Ligation
TR = Tubal Reversal
TORCH =Toxoplasmosis, Other, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus & Herpes test
TR = Tubal Reversal
TS = Traditional Surrogate
TSI = Timed Sexual Intercourse
TTC = Trying to Conceive
TTCAR = Trying to Conceive after Reversal
TUFT = Trans-uterine Fallopian Transfer
TVEPU = Trans-Vaginal Egg Pick Up
TVU = Trans-Vaginal Ultrasound
TWW = Two Week Wait
US, u/s = Ultrasound
V = Vasectomy
VR = Vasectomy Reversal
ZIFT = Zygote Intra-fallopian Transfer
