Infertility Jargon

Most areas of interest, content, and especially professions have their own lingo or "jargon" and interestingly enough, the world of infertility is no different.  In fact, it's filled with all kinds of acronyms that even I'm still figuring out. As I navigate through other blogs, forums, and my own infertility journey, I've started to build up my own repertoire of definitions for these crazy short-hands that are often used. Although throughout my posts I try to not use any acronyms without at least initially defining them, in case you happen to be interested (or in case I accidentally slip up) here's a quick reference of sorts that I'll continue to add to :)

- TTC = Trying to Conceive

- IUI = Intrauterine Insemination

- IVF = In Vitro Fertilization

- Clomid = Medication used to increase the strength, likeliness, and even number of eggs produced for ovulation

- HSG = Hysterosalpingogram (a diagnostic fertility test looking for tubal abnormalities)

- Beta = A pregnancy blood test detecting the levels of HCG in the blood

- HCG = Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (the pregnancy hormone that the body produces when pregnant; also an injectible medication used to trigger ovulation)

- BFP = Big Fat Positive (often used in pregnancy forums to describe a positive pregnancy test)

- BFN = Big Fat Negative (often used in pregnancy forums to describe a negative pregnancy test)

*Update*... after my initial attempts to build my own acronym definition list, I came across this handy-dandy little link that just did all the work for me. For a intriguingly complete list of all the short-hand, check out this link.