Hey there, friends! If you’re diving into the world of trying to conceive (TTC), you might feel a bit overwhelmed by all the jargon and acronyms thrown around. No worries! We’ve compiled a simple list of the most common terms and abbreviations you may encounter on your journey. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, just let us know—we love adding to our resources for everyone.
Common Fertility Terms
- Artificial Insemination: This is when sperm is intentionally placed into a woman’s cervix or uterus to help achieve pregnancy, without the need for sexual intercourse.
- Basal Body Temperature (BBT): This refers to your body temperature after getting a solid 5 hours of sleep. Tracking BBT helps indicate ovulation or pregnancy, as it changes throughout your cycle.
- Chemical Pregnancy: An early miscarriage that happens shortly after implantation. If you see a positive pregnancy test but then experience heavy bleeding, it’s likely a chemical pregnancy.
- Cervix: The passageway from the vagina to the uterus. It plays a crucial role in fertility by allowing sperm in and eventually letting a baby out. It changes throughout your cycle, providing important clues about your fertility.
- Cervical Fluid/Mucus: This fluid changes consistency and color throughout your cycle and is important for tracking fertility signs. It can be dry, sticky, or even egg-white like when you’re about to ovulate.
- Endometrium: The lining of the uterus that thickens in preparation for a potential pregnancy, and is shed during your period if pregnancy doesn’t occur.
- Follicular Phase: The first part of your cycle, starting from the first day of your period up until ovulation.
- HCG: A hormone released during pregnancy. Home pregnancy tests check for HCG to determine if you are pregnant.
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): A process where eggs are fertilized by sperm in a lab setting, and the resulting embryos are transferred to the uterus. It often involves several procedures and hormone treatments.
- Luteal Phase (LP): The time between ovulation and your next period, following the follicular phase.
- Menstrual Cycle: This begins on the first day of your period and lasts until your next period starts, typically around 28 days.
Common Fertility and TTC Acronyms
- AF: Aunt Flo (your period)
- BFP: Big Fat Positive (pregnancy test result)
- CD: Cycle Day
- DPO: Days Post Ovulation
- IUI: Intrauterine Insemination
- OPK: Ovulation Predictor Kit
- TTC: Trying to Conceive
- TWW: Two Week Wait
If you want to learn more about home insemination kits and how they work, check out this great resource here. For fertility boosters that might help, you can find valuable info from trusted sources like Make a Mom. And for those looking for more in-depth information on treating infertility, ACOG has some fantastic resources.
In summary, navigating the world of fertility can be tricky, but understanding these terms and acronyms can help make the journey a bit clearer. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have more questions—knowledge is power!