Whether you’ve just begun the journey towards trying to get pregnant or you’ve been trying for months (or years!) to no avail, you’ve probably run into more abbreviations than you can shake a stick at. After a while, it can be hard to keep up with all the terms used in and out of fertility clinics, OBGYN offices, and even TTC forums. Below, we’re giving you the full rundown on terms and acronyms you need to know.

Baby Terms

BA: Baby Aspirin

CMV: Cytomegalovirus

CVS: Chorionic Villus Sampling

FHR: Fetal Heart Rate

SA: Semen Analysis

Blood Terms

ACA: Anticardiolipin Antibody

ACTH: Adrenal Corticotropic Hormone

ANA: Antinuclear Antibodies

APA: Antiphospholipid Antibodies

APTT: Activated Partial Thrombo Time

ASA: Antisperm Antibody

B/W, b/w: Bloodwork

FBG: Fasting Blood Glucose

FI: Fasting Insulin

GTT: Glucose Tolerance Test

LH: Luteinizing Hormone

PIO: Progesterone in Oil injection

Body Terms

BBT: Basal Body Temperature

Dx: Diagnosis

E2: Estradiol

TX: Treatment

IVF Terms

AH: Assisted Hatching

AI: Artificial/Assisted Insemination

ART: Assisted Reproductive Technology

ASRM: American Society of Reproductive Medicine

DE: Donor Eggs

DI: Donor Husband

DIPI: Direct Intraperitoneal Insemination

ER: Egg Retrieval

ET: Egg Transfer

ETA: Embryo Toxicity Assay

ETF: Embryo Toxicity Factor

Frostie: Frozen Embryo

FTTA: Fertile Thoughts to All

HSG: Hysterosalpingogram

ICI: Intracervical Insemination

ICSI: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

IF: Infertility

INCIID: International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination

ITI: Intratubal Insemination

IUI: Intrauterine Insemination

PGD/PGS: Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, Preimplantation Genetic Screening

PI: Primary Infertility

SART: Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology

SI: Secondary Infertility

Menstruation Terms

AF: Aunt Flo, After Flo, Period, or Menstrual Cycle

CB: Cycle Buddy

CD: Cycle Day

LMP: Last Menstrual Period

O, OV: Ovulation

OPK/OPT: Ovulation Predictor Kit, Ovulation Predictor Test

RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist

TWW: Two-week wait

Pregnancy Terms

Beta: HCG pregnancy test

BFN: Big Fat Negative

BFP: Big Fat Positive

CASA: Computer-assisted Semen Analysis

CCCT, CCT: Clomiphene Citrate Challenge Test 

CM: Cervical Mucus

CNM: Certified Nurse Midwife

COH: Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation

CP: Cervical Position

D&C: Dilation & Curettage

D&E: Dilation & Evacuation

DOR: Diminished Ovarian Reserve

DPO: Days Post-Ovulation

DPR: Days Post-Retrieval

DPT: Days Post-Transfer

EPT: Early Pregnancy Test

FSH: Follicle-Stimulating Hormone

GD: Gestational Diabetes

HCG, hcg: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (the hormone responsible for positive pregnancy tests)

LAP: Laparoscopy

MAI: Miscarriage after Infertility

MC, m/c, misc.: Miscarriage

PG: Pregnant

POAS: Pee on a Stick

PUPO: Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise

RPL: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

TTCAR: Trying to Conceive After Reversal (tubal ligation or vasectomy)

US: Ultrasound

V/VR: Vasectomy, Vasectomy Reversal

Sex Terms

BCP: Birth Control Pills

BD: Baby Dance (sex)

LSP: Low Sperm Count

OC: Oral Contraceptives

TTC: Trying To Conceive

Uterine Terms

EB, EMB: Endometrial Biopsy

ENDO: Endometriosis

PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

PID: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

POF: Premature Ovarian Failure

POI: Primary Ovarian Insufficiency

TL/TR: Tubal Ligation, Tubal Reversal