Step 1 of preparation: speak the IVF language.
I believe that self-education is a very important step for IVF preparation. You can find plenty of articles and studies to read. One topic is going to lead to another, giving you endless information about IVF and all its details.
"To be honest, it was very difficult for me to understand the comments at first, because of these almost code-like short form terms. It is like a secret language which is spoken by our special community only."
Visiting fertility or IVF forums can be really helpful as well, and these are a great source of information especially for a new bird like me. It helps me to know what is going to happen with me, and I also can gain knowledge from other’s experience (and sometimes learn from other’s mistakes, for example: why don’t take a pregnancy test too early).
I don’t know how much time you have spent on IVF or fertility blogs, but if you have visited at least one, you might have noticed that it’s full of acronyms. To be honest, it was very difficult for me to understand the comments at first, because of these almost code-like short form terms. It is like a secret language which is spoken by our special community only.
To make the life of the new birdies – as myself – easier, I decided to collect the basics of the IVF vocabulary. Have fun, learn a lot, educate yourself!
2WW: 2 weeks wait (from embryo transfer until pregnancy test)
AF: Aunt Flo, Period, or Menstrual Cycle
BCP: Birth Control Pills
BA: Baby Aspirin (low-dose aspirin to improve chances)
BD: Baby Dance (sex)
Beta: HCD pregnancy test
BFN: Big Fat Negative (negative pregnancy test)
BFP: Big Fat Positive (positive pregnancy test)
CB: Cycle Buddy (someone who is on IVF at the same time)
CD: (menstrual) cycle day
DE: Donor Egg
DH: Dear Husband
DI: Donor Husband (sperm donor)
DPO: Days Post-Ovulation
DPR: Days Post-Retrieval
DPT: Days Post-(Embryo)Transfer
DP5DT: Days Post 5-Day Transfer
DW: Dear Wife
EPT: Early Pregnancy Test
ER: Egg Retrieval
ET: Embryo Transfer
Frostie: Frozen Embryo
FSH: Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
HCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (pregnancy hormone)
HPT: Home Pregnancy Test
HX: History
IF: Infertility
IUI: Intra-Uterine Insemination
IVF: In Vitro Fertilization
LMP: Last Menstrual Period (first day)
LSP: Low Sperm Count
MC: Miscarriage
MF: Male Factor
O, OV: Ovulation
OB/GYN: Obstetrician / Gynecologist
OHSS: Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
PG: Pregnant
PMS: Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
POAS: Pee On a Stick
RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist
RPL: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
SA: Semen Analysis
S/S: Signs/Symptoms
TTC: Trying To Conceive
TX: Treatment
US: Ultrasound
WNL: Within Normal Limits
