As soon as I realized my pregnancy journey was not “typical,” I started browsing online infertility support groups to gather information about what I was in for. What I wasn’t expecting was a wide range of TTC acronyms that felt like a foreign language.
From BCP to RPL, each topic I viewed came with a seemingly endless collection of abbreviations, nicknames, and other fertility-related jargon.
Whenever I thought I was getting the hang of what my fellow infertility warriors were talking about, something new would pop up that I’d have to try and figure out.
If you’re just beginning your TTC process, it can feel overwhelming to decipher what everyone is talking about in articles, message boards, and even your doctor’s office. Before you start to stress, put your worries aside!
We’re breaking down the most common TTC abbreviations from A to Z!
If you want to know what the heck all of these men and women are talking about, help has arrived in the form of this exhaustive list of TTC acronyms.
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TTC Meaning
Okay, let’s start with the basics – how are you supposed to understand these TTC acronyms if you don’t know what TTC even means?
It’s simple; TTC stands for “trying to conceive,” a.k.a. the process of actively trying to get pregnant.
This could mean getting off birth control, learning ways to track ovulation, or even undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART – one of the most frequently used abbreviations, as you’ll see!)
So, whether you’re searching for TTC tips or want to know how to help implantation when you’re putting effort into getting pregnant, you’re considered TTC.
Understanding the role between infertility support and TTC Fertility abbreviations
When you’re talking about reproductive health, discussions are usually littered with wordy topics and phrases. While these might work in a medical setting, terms like reproductive endocrinologist and hysterosalpingogram don’t exactly feel natural in casual conversations.
Instead, when hopeful parents and former infertility patients are talking among each other, they pepper chats with shorthand phrasing and TTC acronyms.
Using these abbreviations is a way to offer informed fertility support while remaining casual and personable. TTC communities aren’t trying to leave you out, we promise!
Common TTC Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Nicknames
Whether you’re struggling with a male factor fertility issue or have polycystic ovary syndrome, your fertility experience will probably involve many medications, health screenings, lab work, and procedures.
If you want to know the right way to discuss these things in infertility support groups, these are some of the trying to conceive acronyms you’ll want to familiarize yourself with.
TTC Abbreviation Meanings: AF to CM
- AF or Aunt Flo: You’ll often hear women reference AF (a.k.a. Aunt Flo) when talking about their menstrual cycle.
- AO: Anovulation is represented by the TTC acronym, AO. This means your ovaries are not releasing eggs; therefore, ovulation isn’t happening.
- ART: From intrauterine inseminations to in vitro fertilization, when communities talk about assisted reproductive technologies (ART), these are the processes they’re referring to.
- Baby Dust: While not a TTC abbreviation, baby dust is a way of offering well wishes and good luck to your fellow fertility warriors. You’ll often see women offering blessings of baby dust when a couple or individual is getting ready for their embryo transfer, or it’s almost time to do the baby dance to conceive (more on that one in a bit!)
- BBT: If you’re looking for natural ways to track ovulation, many doctors and professionals suggest the basal body temperature method (BBT.)
- BCP: BCP, or as you might know them better, birth control pills, aren’t just for preventing pregnancies. Many doctors will recommend cycles of BCP usage when you’re trying to get pregnant to get your body on the right track.
- BD: BD a.k.a. baby dance, a.k.a. having sex – need I say more?
- Beta: When you are trying to conceive, your doctor will likely use blood pregnancy tests, also referred to as beta tests, instead of just having you pee on a stick.
- BFN and BFP: Do you want to tell folks the results your positive pregnancy test showed? Are you talking about previous negative tests? Let your community know with a BFN or BFP, big fat positive or big fat negative.
- BW: BW stands for blood work – an annoying yet necessary part of most fertility treatment protocols.
- CD: Your cycle day (CD) is the day when it’s time to start doing the baby dance to try and conceive.
- CM: The consistency of your cervical mucus (CM) is a normal part of tracking ovulation.
TTC Acronym Meanings: DH to HSG
- DH or DW: Dear Husband or Dear Wife are represented by the TTC acronyms DH and DW. These are terms used when talking about your spouse.
- DTD: It wouldn’t be a list of TTC abbreviations without more than one way of talking about sex. DTD stands for doing the deed.
- DPO: The number of days past ovulation (DPO) is usually tracked to help you determine when you should take a pregnancy test. If you used IUI or IVF to get pregnant, you might also use the fertility abbreviation DPT or days past transfer.
- EDD: Your estimated due date (EDD) tells you when you can expect your baby to arrive.
- ENDO: Do you have endometriosis? You might find yourself calling it ENDO in conversation.
- EWCM: If you’re using cervical fluid to track ovulation, you’ll probably be looking for egg white cervical mucus (EWCM).
- FE: Couples using IVF to conceive will transfer a fresh or frozen embryo into the woman’s uterus. FE is a common acronym for a frozen embryo.
- FMU: Your first-morning urine (FMU) is the best for obtaining accurate pregnancy test results with a urine test.
- FSH: FSH or follicle-stimulating hormones are medications used during the stimulation phase of IVF cycles.
- GS: Gestational surrogates (GS) are a common family-building option for same-sex couples and women who cannot carry a baby on their own.
- HCG: HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is the pregnancy hormone your beta blood test is looking for.
- HPT: Urine pregnancy tests are also called home pregnancy tests (HPT).
- HSG: A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is an x-ray fertility test that checks the outline and condition of the uterus and fallopian tubes.
TTC Abbreviations: ICSI to OPK
- ICSI: During an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), lab workers will place a sperm directly into the egg before an embryo transfer.
- IUI: Sometimes affectionately referred to as the “turkey baster method.” intrauterine insemination (IUI) involves doctors inserting the sperm directly into a uterus with a syringe.
- IVF: IVF or in vitro fertilization is an infertility treatment responsible for 1 to 2% of births each year.
- LMP: Healthcare practitioners use your last menstrual period (LMP) to help track cycles and time out treatments.
- LSC: A common male factor infertility issue is low sperm count (LSC).
- MC or M/C: These TTC acronyms are the shorthand way of discussing miscarriage.
- MF: You know those male factor fertility problems discussed previously? People usually reference them with MF.
- MS: Morning sickness (MS) is the bane of many expectant mothers’ existence and also a welcome early sign of pregnancy.
- OHSS: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a risk factor for women taking follicle-stimulating hormone medications during an IVF cycle.
- OPK: Ovulation predictor kits (OPK) are a helpful tool during conception journeys.
TTC Acronyms: PCOS to SOD
- PCOS: Polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility.
- PG: The fertility abbreviation most of us want to use – PG, or pregnant!
- POAS: Rather than writing pee on a stick over and over, you’ll probably see the TTC acronym POAS on online message boards.
- PUPO: If you’re PUPO, you’re pregnant until proven otherwise!
- RE: A reproductive endocrinologist (RE) is a gynecologist who specializes in fertility treatment.
- RPL: RPL describes recurrent pregnancy loss. Some people also say RM or RMC for recurrent miscarriage.
- SA: Before fertility treatments begin, your doctor will likely request a semen analysis (SA).
- SI: If you’re struggling to conceive after successfully giving birth in the past, this is called secondary infertility (SI).
- SOD: Sex on demand, or SOD, is talking about timing out sex based on ovulation.
TTC Fertility Abbreviations: TCOYF to 2WW
- TCOYF: Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler is a popular read among hopeful parents struggling with infertility. You can just call it TCOYF, though!
- US or U/S: During initial infertility workups and treatments, you’ll probably have several ultrasounds (US).
- 2WW or TWW: The two-week wait (2WW or TWW) is the period after ovulation or an embryo transfer before taking a blood test or home pregnancy test is possible.
Waiting for your BFP doesn’t have to be confusing when TTC
As you can tell, there’s a lot to cover in the realm of trying to conceive abbreviations. If you’re feeling confused after jumping onto your first infertility support forum, keep this list in your back pocket!
Were you familiar with any of these TTC acronyms already? Which ones?
TTC Meaning: link round-up
Want to read more great conception content? Check out these other TTC posts!
