Common Board Abbreviations

[Tiggergirl0325]

If the posts here look like a bowl of alphabet soup to you, don't fret, we've all been there. Here's a list of the most common abbreviations we use here to help you out and turn your to a Some are specific to conception and pregnancy, others are common internet abbreviations. Hopefully this makes everything a little clearer. Though we do use quite a few shortcuts here, we do tend to avoid abbreviating short single words. Things like "U","UR", "B4","L8R", "TNX" etc. aren't generally used here.

Medical/Conception/Pregnancy Abbreviations
AF - Aunt Flo (Menstruation)
AFNW - Aunt Flo Not Wanted
AFP - Alphafetoprotein (test during pregnancy for possible birth defects)
ANA - Anti-Nuclear Antibodies (cause of auto-immune disorder that can cause IF issues)
APA - Anti-Phospholipid Antibodies (clotting disorder that can lead to miscarriage)
ASA - Anti-Sperm Antibody
BBT - Basal Body Temperature
BD - Baby Dancing (sex during fertile time)
Beta - (see "HCG")
BCP - Birth Control Pills
BF (BFing) - Breastfeeding
BFN - Big Fat Negative
BFP - Big Fat Positive
CB - Cycle Buddy
CD - Cycle Day
CF - Cervical Fluid
CM - Cervical Mucus
CP - Cervical Position
CVS - Chorionic Villae Sampling
DD (or EDD) - Due Date (or Estimated Due Date)
D&C - Dilation & Curettage
DPO - Days Post-ovulation
Dx - Diagnosis
E2 - Estradiol (estrogen made by ovaries; levels tested during IF treatments to determine ovarian function and cycle timing)
Endo - Endometriosis
EPT - Early Pregnancy Test
ET - Embryo Transfer
EWCM - Egg White Cervical Mucus (the most fertile CM)
FET - Frozen Embryo Transfer (type of IVF procedure)
FMU -First Morning Urine (highest in certain hormone levels and best to use for taking an HPT)
FRE - First Response Early (commonly used brand of HPT)
FSH - Follicle Stimulating Hormone (hormone that controls egg growth in ovaries)
GP - General Practitioner
HCG (a.k.a. beta-HCG and beta) -Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (levels tested to confirm pregnancy and track early pregnancy progress and growth)
HPT - Home Pregnancy Test (tests HCG levels)
HSG - Hysterosalpingogram (x-ray procedure to examine shape of uterus and openness of tubes)
ICSI - Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection
IF - Infertility
IUGR - Intra-uterine Growth Retardation
IUI - Intra-Uterine Insemination
IVF - In Vitro Fertilization
LAP - Laparoscopy (examination of uterus, tubes, and/or ovaries with laperoscopic camera)
LH - Luteinizing Hormone (surges to trigger ovulation; OPKs monitor this hormone)
LMP - Last Menstrual Period (first day of LMP used as first day of pregnancy)
LP - Luteal Phase (time between ovulation and AF)a.k.a.2WW - 2 week wait
MC (or M/C) - Miscarriage
MW (CNM) - Midwife (Certified Nurse Midwife)
NSA - Non-Surgical Sperm Aspiration (obtains sperm via needle from testicle; used for ICSI if no living sperm can be collected from other means)
O - Ovulate/ or ovulation
OB/GYN - Obstetrician/Gynecologist
OPK - Ovulation Predictor Kit (tests LH levels)
POAS - Pee on a stick ()
PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
PG - Pregnant
PI - Primary Infertility (infertility with no successful pregnancy)
PMS - Pre-menstrual Syndrome
PROM - Premature Rupture of Membranes
RE - Reproductive Endocrinologist
Rx - Prescription
SA - Semen Analysis
SI - Secondary Infertility (infertility after one or more successful pregnancies)
SPA - Sperm Penetration Assay
TCOYF - Taking Charge of Your Fertility (well recommended book on infertility)
TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (levels that are too high or too low can affect fertility)
TTC - Trying To Conceive
Tx - Treatment
US (or U/S) - Ultrasound
UTI - Urinary Tract Infection

General Abbreviations
BF - Best Friend
BTW - By The Way
Bump () - posted to bump a thread back up to the top of a forum
DD - Dear Daughter
DF - Dear Friend/Fiance
DH - Dear Husband
DP - Dear Partner
DS - Dear Son
FWIW - For What It's Worth
FYI - For Your Information
HTH - Hope That/This Helped/Helps
ITA - I Totally Agree
IMO (IMHO) - In My Opinion (In My Honest/Humble Opinion)
ISO - In Search Of (often used in Garage Sale Forum)
J/K - Just Kidding
KWIM - Know what I mean?
LOL - Laughing Out Loud
LMAO - Lauging My A** Off
ROTFL - Rolling On The Floor Laughing
TIA - Thanks In Advance
TMI - Too Much Info
O/T - Off Topic
OMG - Oh My God/Gosh/Golly
PITA - Pain In The A**
WTF/WTH - What The F***/What The Heck