Vincelli: Party of 6

Vincelli: Party of 6

Sunday, June 7, 2009

THE ALPHABET SOUP OF INFERTILITY

The world of infertility has many crazy technical terminology (why those words are so long, confusing, hard to spell and even more difficult to pronounce, I’ll never know!) and even more crazy abbreviations. I was thrown into this big bowl of alphabet soup and was immediately overwhelmed. It’s all so complex and confusing!

Most of what I know came from my lovely friend, “google search.” He’s never let me down yet. We’ve become very close and he’s given me lots of good leads on some promising information from both medical professionals and just normal blogs from normal people!

Here are just a few examples of the INFERTILITY LINGO I’ve come all too familiar with:

ART = Assisted Reproductive Technology
BBT = Basal Body Temperature
BCP = Birth Control Pill
BSE = Breast Self-Exam
E2 = Estradiol
EDD = Estimated Due Date
ENDO = Endometriosis
EPT = Early Pregnancy Test
ET = Embryo Transfer
FET = Frozen Embryo Transfer
FSH = Follicle Stimulating Hormone
GnRH = Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone
hCG, HCG = Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HPT = Home Pregnancy Test
HSC = Hysteroscopy
HSG = Hysterosalpingogram
ICSI = Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection
IF = Infertility
IM = Intra-muscular Injections
IUI = Intra-uterine Insemination
IVF = In Vitro Fertilization
LAP = Laparoscopy
LH = Luteinizing Hormone
LMP = Last Menstrual Period (start date)
LP = Luteal Phase
LSP = Low Sperm Count
MF = Male Factor
O, OV = Ovulation
OB/GYN = Obstetrician/Gynecologist
OC = Oral Contraceptives
OHSS = Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
OPK = Ovulation Predictor Kit
OTC = Over The Counter
P4 = Progesterone
PG = Pregnant
PI = Primary Infertility
PIO = Progesterone in Oil
PMS = Pre-menstrual Syndrome
RE = Reproductive Endocrinologist
SA = Semen Analysis
SHG, SonoHSG = Sonohysterogram
TSH = Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
TTC = Trying to Conceive
US, u/s = Ultrasound

There are also some “non-technical terms” that are common to the infertiles, such as:

2WW = 2 Week Wait
AF = Aunt Flo (menstruation)
BFN = Big Fat Negative
BFP = Big Fat Positive
BMS = Baby Making Sex
FTTA = Fertile Thoughts To All
ONNA = Oh No, Not Again
CBNBC: Childless But Not By Choice