Do you speak Infertility?
Having to go through the infertility journey is hard enough but having to learn a whole new language is maddening! Not only do you have to learn how to cope in ways you never imagined you need to learn a whole new language of abbreviations that are constantly used. Sometimes it can sound so foreign, that I thought it might be helpful to compile an alphabetical list to help a sista out. Let me know if I missed any and feel free to share.
xoxo,
Caryn
The ABC’s of Infertility
A
ACA – Anti-Cardiolipin Antibody
An immune disorder that can cause miscarriages and lack of implantation.
AF – Aunt Flo
aka your period (the enemy – )
AH – Assisted Hatching
Procedure by which a small crack is made to the embryo that is believed to help the embryo implant in the uterus.
AI – Artificial Insemination
Pretty self explanatory…. Also see IUI
ACA – Anti-Cardiolipin Antibody
ANA – Anti-Nuclear Antibodies
APA – Anti-Phospholipid Antibodies
These are all immune disorders that can cause miscarriages and lack of implantation.
ART – Assisted Reproductive Technology
The umbrella word used to describe the medical procedures that are used to achieve pregnancy other than the old fashioned way.
ASA – Anti-Sperm Antibody
When semen cause an immune response either in the male of female and antibodies are produced.
ASRM – American Society of Reproductive Medicine
Organization dedicated to the advancement of Reproductive Medicine.
B
BA – Baby Aspirin
A low dose aspirin sometimes used for certain clotting conditions.
BCP – Birth Control Pills
I’m quite certain you are familiar with these. (Insert emoji)
BD – Baby Dance
What fertile couples do to get preggers.
BHCG – Beta HCG
The hormone that the embryo produces when it implants in the uterus. This is the blood test that is done after the 2WW.
BFN – Big Fat Negative
It didn’t work…
BFP – Big Fat Positive
Lets celebrate!
B/W – Blood Work
Get ready for lots of it!
C
CD – Cycle Day
Cycle day 1 is your first day of AF.
COH – Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation
What happens when you take fertility drugs.
E
E2 – Estradiol
aka Estrogen. Will be monitored during various stages of stimulation and after implantation.
ENDO – Endometriosis
A disorder whereby uterine tissue grows outside the uterus. This can cause painful periods and can be a cause for IF.
ER – Egg Retrieval
When the eggs that you have stimulated are removed from your ovaries.
ET – Egg Transfer
When the embryo is transferred back into your uterus in hopes of it implanting.
F
FHR – Fetal Heart Rate
Can be heard around 7 weeks of pregnancy and right before being released from your RE.
FP – Follicular Phase
The period of you cycle where the follicles are growing.
Frostie – Frozen Embryo
When you have extra viable embryos that are not transferred you can freeze and store them for a later cycle.
FSH – Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
Hormone that is injected to grow many eggs at one. Brand names such as Follistim, Gonal-F and Bravelle.
G
GIFT – Gamete Intra-fallopian Transfer
When a gamete is placed directly into the fallopian tube.
H
HSG – Hysterosalpingography
A type of x-ray test that can show whether the fallopian tubes are open or closed.
I
ICI – Intracervial Insemination
A type of IUI where the sperm are injected onto the cervix.
ICSI – Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
When there is an issue with the sperm the embryologists can take a single sperm and inject it into the egg in order to fertilize it.
IF – Infertile
Having a hard time getting pregnant doing the baby dance.
IM – Intramuscular Injections
Hurt like hell and are used for many shots during a cycle like Progesterone. Injected directly into a muscle.
IUI – Intrauterine Insemination
Procedure where the sperm are injected into the uterus.
IVF – In Vitro Fertilization
The process of having a test tube baby.
IVIG – Intravenous Immunoglobulin
An IV medication sometimes used to calm an immune response your body may have to pregnancy.
L
LIT – Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy
A procedure whereby the dad to be’s white blood cells are injected into the mom to be to help her immune system prepare for pregnancy.
N
NK – Natural Killer Cells
A type of white blood cell that can cause implantation failure and miscarriage when the embryo is seen as a foreign body.
P
P4 – Progesterone
The hormone needed to help thicken the uterus for implantation. Will be checked after retrieval and during pregnancy.
PAF/PANFERT – Pregnancy After Infertility
It happened yay!
PCOS – Polycistic Ovarian Disease
When a woman’s hormones are out of whack causing irregular periods and possible IF.
PCT – Post Coital Test
A test that measures the interaction of sperm and cervical mucus.
PG – Pregnant
You have a bun in the oven.
POAS – Pee on a Stick
What most couples get to do.
PGD – Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis
When the embryo is tested before implantation to ensure it’s a viable embryo.
PI – Primary Infertility
Infertility that occurs before you have had a live birth.
PID – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
When scar tissue forms on the woman’s reproductive organs and prevent sperm and egg meeting.
PIO – Progesterone in Oil
Injectable form of Progesterone that is typically mixed with peanut oil.
POC – Products of Conception
Medical term used to describe the tissue formed when an egg and sperm unite.
POF – Premature Ovarian Failure
aka early menopause
PROM – Premature Rupture of Membranes
When your water breaks earlier than expected.
R
RE – Reproductive Endocrinologist
A specialist who treats IF.
RI – Reproductive Immunologist
A specialist who treats IF as it relates to the immune systems interaction with the reproductive system.
R-hFSH – Recombinant Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone
The name for the class of drugs used to stimulate the follicles.
RIP – Reproductive Immunophynotype
A test that looks at the immune cells response to pregnancy. When elevated may explain RPL.
RPL – Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
When you keep miscarrying (insert emoji).
RSM – Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
aka miscarriage
S
SA – Semen Analysis
When a man’s swimmers are tested to ensure they can get the job done.
SART – Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology
Primary organization of professionals dedicated to ART in the U.S.
SI – Secondary Infertility
When IF occurs after having already achieved a natural pregnancy and birth.
SPA – Sperm Penetration Assay
A lab test that can predict the ability of a mans sperm to penetrate an egg.
SPAL – Subsequent Pregnancy After a Loss
Exactly what it sounds like.
S/S – Signs/Symptoms
Tell tale signs of pregnancy.
SubQ – Subcutaneous Injection
When an injection of medication is under the skin but does not go to the muscle.
T
TESA – Testicular Sperm Aspiration
A procedure by which sperm are collected directly from the testicles.
TET – Tubal Embryo Transfer
When early embryos are transferred into the fallopian tubes instead of the uterus.
TSH – Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
A hormone that helps regulate how your body uses energy. If the levels are either too high or too low can result in RPL.
TTC – Trying to Conceive
Trying to have a baby (emoji)
TWW or 2WW – 2 Week Wait
This is the period of time after an IVF Transfer that you wait until your pregnancy test. In my opinion the most torturous….
TX – Treatment
Medical recommendation from a doctor.
U
US – Ultrasound
Imaging that uses sound waves to see inside the body.
W
WNL – Within Normal Limits
When a test result is considered normal.
Z
ZIFT – Zygote Intra-fallopian Transfer
When a zygote is placed directly into the fallopian tubes