Fertility Terms

Fertility terms are like an entirely different language.

Here is a list of some of the most common fertility terms/acronyms and what they mean:

TTC - Trying to Conceive - This is the common term used to indicate the time when you are trying to conceive.

2WW - 2 Week Wait - This is the time window after ovulation and before testing before pregnancy.

BBT - Basal Body Temperature - During natural cycle monitoring, you can track your basal body temperature (your temperature at complete rest upon waking) throughout your cycle to understand whether or not you are ovulating.

CM - Cervical Mucus - This refers to the mucus created by the cervix during the follicular phase and leading up to ovulation.

CD - Cycle Day - This refers to the day of your menstrual cycle.

LMP - Last Menstrual Period - This refers to the 1st day of your last menstrual period.

DPO: Days Post Ovulation - This refers to the number of days after ovulation. You may also hear DPR (days post retrieval) or DPT (days post transfer).

TIC - Timed Intercourse - This is a specific type of cycle whereby patients are monitored with blood work and imaging and told when to have intercourse to optimize their chances of conceiving.

IUI - Intrauterine Insemination - This is the process of having sperm injected directly into the uterus after insertion of a catheter through the cervix at the time of ovulation.

ART - Assisted Reproductive Technology - Specific techniques used to assist reproduction, including, but not limited to IVF (see below).

IVF - In Vitro Fertilization - This is the process of having eggs retrieved and then fertilized with sperm in the lab. The fertilized egg (embryo) is then transferred to the uterus.

OPU - Ovum Pick Up - This is the process of retrieving the eggs from the ovaries. It is sometimes called an egg retrieval or transvaginal oocyte retrieval.

ICSI - Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection - This is the process of selecting the best single sperm and injecting that directly into the mature egg in the lab. It is sometimes used during IVF.

ET - Embryo Transfer - This refers to the transfer of a fresh embryo into the uterus.

FET - Frozen Embryo Transfer - This is the process of taking an embryo that was frozen, thawing it, and directly inserting it in the uterus.

PGT-A/PGS - Pre-Implantation Genetic Test for Aneuploidy/Preimplantation Genetic Screen - This is genetic screening done on embryos created through IVF that assesses for genetic abnormalities that may impact whether or not a pregnancy will occur, be maintained, or if the fetus will have genetic abnormalities.

Beta-HcG: Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin - The chemical created during a pregnancy that can be tested through urine or serum.