Message Board Acronyms for Surrogacy and Beyond

by Judith E. Beckett, R.N.

As if you don’t have enough to learn and understand when you are beginning to research surrogacy as your choice for starting or growing your family, the information you uncover often seems to be written in code.

In A Gay Couple’s Journey Through Surrogacy: Intended Fathers, a humorous account about how Michael Menichiello and his partner became gay fathers, Manchiello wrote:

But, while at the site, I couldn’t resist checking out some of the ads that surrogates themselves had posted. The first thing that struck me was the lingo. It was like reading some strange foreign code. I had no idea what IP, IF, IM, FIM, GS, TS, RE, ED, DD or DHD meant. Some I still don’t. The only one missing was HCGG or highly confused gay guy. (p.14)

Below is a list of acronyms and abbreviations garnered from several message boards that will help you out.

1

• 1ww: 1 week wait
• 2ww: 2 week wait (the time from ovulation to the next expected period)

A

• A: Adoption
• ABC: Artificial Birth Control
• ACA: Anticardiolipin Antibodies
• ACTH: Adrenal Corticotropic Hormone
• AF: Aunt Flo – Menstrual Period
• AFNW: Aunt Flo Not Wanted
• AFP: Alpha-Fetoprotein Test
• AI: Artificial Insemination
• AP: Attachment Parenting
• ART: Assisted Reproductive Technology
• ATA: Antithyroid Antibody
• AVA: Antiovarian Antibody
• AZH: Assisted Hatching

B

• BB: Bulletin Board
• BBT: Basal Body Temperature
• BCP: Birth Control Pills
• BFN: Big Fat Negative (Negative Pregnancy Test) (Also Bye For Now)
• BFP: Big Fat Positive (Positive Pregnancy Test)
• BT: Blood Test

C

• CB: Cycle Buddy (Women on the Same Menstrual Cycle)
• CBE: ClearBlueEasy
• CCCT: Clomiphene Citrate Challenge (Clomid Challenge)
• CD: Cycle Day (Day of Menstrual Cycle; The First Day of A Period Is Day 1)
• CF: Cervical Fluid
• CM: Cervical Mucus
• CNM: Certified Nurse Midwife
• CP: Cervical position
• CVS: Chorionic Villus Sampling

D

• D&C: Dilation and Curretage (Surgical Procedure After Miscarriage)
• D&E: Dilation and Evacuation (Surgical Procedure After Miscarriage)
• DA: Daycare
• DE: Donor Egg
• DPO: Day Past Ovulation
• DPR: Days Past Retrieval
• DP3DT: Days Post 3-Day Transfer
• DP5DT: Days Post 5-Day Transfer
• DPT: Days Post Transfer
• DYS: Describe Yourself

E

• E2: Estradiol
• ED: Egg Donor/Donation
• EDD: Estimated Delivery/Due Date
• EFR/FRER/FRE: First Response Early Results (Pregnancy Test)
• ELV: Easy Labor Vibes
• EML: Extended Maternity Leave
• EPT: Early Pregnancy Test
• EWCM: Egg White Cervical Mucus

F

• FAM: Family Awareness Method (For Pinpointing Ovulation)
• FC: Fingers Crossed
• FIF: Former Intended Father
• FIM: Former Intended Mother
• FIP: Former Intended Parent
• FMU: First Morning Urine
• FTSHAM: Full-Time Stay-at-Home Mom
• FTTA: Fertile Thoughts to All
• FTWM: Full-Time Working Mom

G

• GS: Gestational Surrogacy
• GTC: Going to Conceive
• GTT: Glucose Tolerance Test

H

• H&H9: Happy and Healthy 9 Months/Pregnancy Congratulations
• HCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
• HGB: Hemoglobin
• HPT: Home Pregnancy Test
• HSC: Hysteroscopy
• HSG: Hysterosalpingogram
• HTH: Hope That Helps
• Hx: History

I

• ICI: Intra-cervical Insemination
• ICSI: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
• IF: Infertility/Intended Father
• IM: Intended Mother
• Insems: Artificial Insemination
• IP: Intended Parent
• ITI: Intratubal Insemination
• ISA: Independent Surrogacy Arrangement
• IUI: Intrauterine Insemination
• IVF: In Vitro fertilization

J

K

L

• LAP: Laparoscopy
• L&D: Labor and Delivery
• LMP: Last Menstrual Period
• LOK: Lots of Kids
• LP: Luteal Phase
• LPD: Luteal Phase Defect

M

• MAT LV: Maternity Leave
• MC or M/C: Miscarriage
• MFI: Male Factor Infertility
• MO: Months old
• MS: Morning Sickness
• MW: Midwife

N

• NFP: Natural Family planning (To Pinpoint Ovulation)
• NP: Nurse Practitioner
• NST: Non-Stress Test

O

• O: Ovulation
• O’ing: Ovulating
• OB: Obstetrician
• OB/GYN: Obstetrician/Gynecologist
• OLV: Open Legs Vibe (To See Gender During Ultrasound)
• OPK: Ovulation Predictor Kits
• OPT: Ovulation Predictor Test
• OTC: Over the Counter

P

• PED: Pediatrician
• PG: Pregnant
• PI: Primary Infertility
• PID: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
• PIF: Potential Intended Father
• PIM: Potential Intended Mother
• PIP: Potential Intended Parent
• PMS: Premenstrual Syndrome
• POAS: Pee On A Stick (Use a Home Pregnancy Test)
• PPD: Postpartum Depression
• PROM: Premature Rupture of the Membranes
• PTL: Preterm Labor

Q

R

• RBC: Red Blood Cell
• RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist
• RPL: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
• RSA: Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
• RUM?: Are You Married?
• RUS?: Are You Single?

S

• SAAF: Stay Away Aunt Flo
• SAHD: Stay At Home Dad
• SAHM: Stay At Home Mom
• SAHP: Stay At Home Parent
• SAHW: Stay At Home Wife
• SD: Sperm Donor
• SHOW: Soft High Open Wet (Condition of Cervix During Ovulation)
• SI: Secondary Infertility
• SO: Significant Other
• STD: Sexually Transmitted Disease
• SW: Social Worker

T

• TCOYF: Take Charge of Your Fertility
• TOK: Tons of Kids
• TS: Traditional Surrogacy
• TTA: Trying to Avoid Conception
• TTC: Trying to Conceive
• Tx: Treatment

U

• US: Ultrasound
• UTI: Urinary Tract Infection

V

W

• WAH: Work At Home
• WAHD: Work At Home Dad
• WAHM: Work At Home Mom
• WAHP: Work At Home Parent
• WBC: White Blood Cells
• WD: Working Dad
• WOHD: Working Out of Home Dad
• WOHM: Working Out of Home Mom

X

• X-AFP: Expanded Alpha-Protein Test

Y

• YMMV: Your Mileage May Vary

Z

That’s it for now. To decode more commonly used abbreviations and acronyms such as BAK (back at keyboard) or BRB (be right back) go to www.netlingo.com. Good luck and HTH!

P.S.: ROFL = Roll On Floor, Laughing and IMHO = In My Humble Opinion.

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