Embarking on the journey of fertility and pregnancy often involves encountering a maze of acronyms and pregnancy abbreviations. Whether you encounter these perplexing terms in your online research, within articles, or amidst supportive communities, deciphering them can be a challenging endeavor.
To make this journey smoother, we’ve developed a comprehensive guide to fertility and pregnancy terminology. Whether you're just starting your pregnancy journey or extending support to friends and family, this resource is designed to clarify the pregnancy acronyms and phrases frequently used in the fertility and pregnancy community.
Navigating Fertility Acronyms & Gynecology Abbreviations
Aunt Flow – A euphemism for menstruation or a woman’s menstrual period.
BD (Baby Dance) – Having sex during your most fertile days to increase the chances of getting pregnant.
Endo (Endometriosis) – A condition where tissue like the uterine lining grows outside the uterus in unusual places.
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) – A hormonal disorder characterized by elevated androgen levels from the ovaries. PCOS can affect fertility as it often leads to irregular menstrual cycles, missed periods, and unpredictable ovulation.
PPD (Postpartum Depression) - A medical condition that many women get after having a baby. Feelings of sadness, anxiety, and tiredness are common.
Rainbow Baby – A child born to a family that has previously lost a pregnancy due to stillbirth, miscarriage, or neonatal death.
TTC Meaning (Trying to Conceive) – In the fertility space, this describes the entire journey of attempting to become pregnant. TTC is a widely used abbreviation within online support communities, like the FIRST RESPONSE™ Pregnancy Hub.
DPO Meaning & Other Fertility Related Terms
Beta – A beta pregnancy test is a blood test that detects the hormone hCG. During the initial phases of pregnancy, hCG levels steadily rise, serving as an indicator that the pregnancy is developing.
BFN Meaning (Big Fat Negative) – This refers to a negative pregnancy test.
BFP Meaning (Big Fat Positive) – This refers to a positive pregnancy test
DPO Meaning (Days Post Ovulation) – Measures time since ovulation. Your most fertile time is when an egg is released, usually 14 days before your period. Early signs of pregnancy may vary depending on how many DPOs a woman may be and can include symptoms such as implantation bleeding.
FRER (First Response Early Result Test) – The FIRST RESPONSE™ Early Result Pregnancy Test is a home pregnancy test that can detect hCG as early as 6 days before a missed period. 1 In laboratory testing, FRER detected the pregnancy hormone levels in 76% of woman 7 days before their missed period.
hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) – A hormone your body produces when you’re pregnant. This is the same hormone that would trigger a positive pregnancy test. Some at-home pregnancy kits may not detect hCG in urine until after the first missed period.
HPT (Home Pregnancy Test) – HPTs are designed to detect hCG, hormone chorionic gonadotropin, in your urine. This is a pregnancy marker secreted by cells after implantation occurs.
LMP Meaning (Last Menstrual Period) – The first day (onset of bleeding) of your last menstrual period before becoming pregnant.
LH (Luteinizing Hormone) – A hormone that helps regulate sexual health and reproduction. It stimulates changes in the ovaries, promoting the release of eggs and the production of sex hormones. LH is especially important during the menstrual cycle, contributing to ovulation in females.
OPK (Ovulation Predictor Kit) – An at-home test that checks urine for increased LH, a signal that the ovary is releasing the egg. This helps identify your fertile window, improving the chances of successful conception.
POAS (Pee on a Stick) – A term referring to the use of at-home pregnancy tests, involving urinating directly on the test strip.
Other Acronyms: Defining IVF, DPT & More
DPT (Days Post Transfer) – The number of days that have passed since the embryo transfer in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure.
Embryo Transfer – This is a step in assisted reproduction where embryos are placed in the uterus to help achieve pregnancy.
ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) – A method in IVF where a single sperm is carefully injected into an egg. This helps in creating embryos, which can then be placed in the mother’s uterus to start a pregnancy.
IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) – A type of artificial insemination designed to address infertility. During the fertile window, sperm is placed directly into the uterus. This assists sperm in reaching the egg more easily, reducing travel distance.
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) – IVF is a medical procedure where a woman’s eggs and a man’s sperm are combined outside the body in a laboratory dish.
Empowering Your Journey with Pregnancy Abbreviations
The early stages of pregnancy are vital for the baby's health and well-being. Getting prenatal care as soon as you realize you're pregnant allows you to make healthier choices for both you and your baby, such as in your diet and avoiding potential risks. Knowing the common abbreviations in the fertility and pregnancy world can help make your journey smoother.
For early results, the FIRST RESPONSE™ Early Result Pregnancy Test provides results six days before your missed period. The FIRST RESPONSE™ Comfort Check Pregnancy Test includes three Early Result Pregnancy Test Sticks and five test strips, so you can test confidently and conveniently, whether you're dealing with a BFN or hoping for a BFP.
The selection of your physician or other healthcare provider will be one of your first important decisions in planning for a baby. Choose a doctor with whom you are comfortable, whose outlook and treatment of pregnancy is closely aligned with your own beliefs.
Many people focus on missing their period as one of the first signs of early pregnancy. You might be surprised to learn that a small amount of blood and some cramping – known as implantation bleeding – can be a sign of pregnancy as the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining and your 9-month journey begins.
When you’re trying to conceive, knowing when you are most likely to get pregnant is crucial. Each month, there is a short window when an egg can be fertilized and implant in the uterus. Learn how to calculate these best days to conceive by tracking ovulation and seizing the opportunity on your most fertile days.