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