Abbreviations Abound

While I admit that I haven't been using the message boards very much at all during our quest,  I find it pretty ridiculous all of the abbreviations that are used when it comes to talking about trying to have a baby and infertility...it makes it so intimidating if you are looking for answers - you have to learn a whole new language first!  I am going to make every effort possible to NOT use the abbreviations such as...

Here is part of the helpful list I found on infertileground.com.  I mean REALLY...(and I took out ones that seemed totally irrelevant at the moment)

A
Acu acupuncture
AF “Aunt Flo” / menstrual cycle
AFC antral follicle count
AH assisted hatching
AI artificial insemination
AMA advanced maternal age, American Medical Association
AO anovulation, anovulatory
ART assisted reproductive technology
ASA antisperm antibodies

B
BBT basal body temperature
BBs breasts - what if yours are AA's? or CC's? :)
BCP birth control pills
BD baby dance (get it?) - This one cracked me up - I mean...come on...
BFN big fat negative (pregnancy test) Sigh...this one seems very accurate in its tone.
BFP big fat positive (pregnancy test)
Blast blastocyst
BMI body mass indexB/W bloodwork

C
CBE Clear-Blue Easy (hpt brand) LOVE it - even in the abbreviation list, they use abbreviations...
CD cycle day
CM cervical mucus
CP cervical position

D
D&C dilation & curettage
DC dear child
DD dear daughter
DE donor egg
Dembie donor embryo
DH dear husband
DI donor insemination
DOR diminished ovarian reserve
DP dear partner
DPO days past ovulation
DPT days past transfer
DS donor sperm, dear son
DTD do (or did) the deed (get that one too?) Not much better than Baby Dance...
Dx diagnosis

E
E2 estradiol
EDD estimated due date
Embie embryo
EPO evening primrose oil
EPT Early Pregnancy Test (hpt brand)
ER egg retrieval
ET embryo transfer
EWCM eggwhite cervical mucus

F
FB Fertility Blend (proprietary vitamin-herbal blend)
FET frozen embryo transfer
FM fertility monitor
FMU first morning urine
FP follicular phase
FRER First Response Early Results (hpt)
FSH follicle stimulating hormone

G
GIFT gamete intrafallopian transfer
GnRH gonadotropin releasing hormone

H
HCG human chorionic gonadotropin
HPT home pregnancy test
HSG hysterosalpingogram
Hx history

I
IC Internet cheapie (generic home pregnancy test)
ICSI intracytoplasmic sperm injection
IF infertility
IM intramuscular
IUI intrauterine insemination
IVF in vitro fertilization
IVIg intravenous immunoglobulin

L
Lap laparoscopy
LH luteinizing hormone
LMP last menstrual period (start date)
LP luteal phase
LPD luteal phase defect

M
MF male factor
MFI male factor infertility
Morph morphology (sperm shape)

N
NP nurse practitioner, naturopath

O
O ovulation
OB/GYN obstetrician/gynecologist
OPK ovulation predictor kit
OR ovarian reserve, operating room
OTC over the counter
OHSS ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

P
PCOS polycystic ovary syndrome
PCP primary care physician
PCT post-coital test
PG Pregnant
PGD preimplantation genetic diagnosis
PID pelvic inflammatory disease
PIO progesterone in oil (injection)
PMS premenstrual syndrome
PNV prenatal vitamin
POAS pee on a stick (the stick = an hpt)
POF premature ovarian failure
Preemie baby born prematurely
PUPO Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise

R
RE reproductive endocrinologist

S
SA semen analysis
SHG sonohysterogram
SMEP sperm meets egg plan  I actually think this one is kind of cute.
SO significant other
SQ subcutaneous
Stims ovulation stimulation drugs

T
TCM traditional Chinese medicine
TCOYF Taking Charge of Your Fertility (popular book)
TL tubal ligation
TR tubal reversal / tubal ligation reversal
TTC trying to conceive Guilty - I know I've used this one...

TWW, 2ww two-week wait (between O and time to test for pregnancy) Possibly the worst part of the whole shebang.
Tx treatment

U
U/S Ultrasound

So let's say you are looking for an answer on one of these message boards...it took me 15 minutes just to decipher what the respondents were trying to say/what the question was talking about - and then you have to throw in a handful of salt, as little of it has been proofread by medical professionals. 

So, I just wanted to say that I will be trying my best to make my blog readable by everyone - even if you haven't learned the secret language of infertility yet :) (Though now you've had a mini crash course!)