Terminology Tuesday: Deciphering the Online Language of Infertility

By: Stephanie Himel-Nelson Tuesday Mar. 15th
Filed in: Medical Conditions, Planning & Trying, Stephanie Himel-Nelson, Terminology Tuesdays

So I know this has happened to all of you. You wander into an infertility chat room, perhaps for the first time, and you see something like this:

I’m on CD28, 14DPO/12DPT and I’m not sure if I should POAS. At 10DPT I got a BFN and then a LTP at 11DPT with a FRE HPT and FMU.

Whaaaaaat???

You’ve just encountered the secret language of TTC and IF “ trying to conceive and infertility. Allow me to translate:

I’m on Cycle Day 28, 14 Days Past Ovulation/12 Days Past Transfer and I’m not sure if I should Pee On A Stick (take a pregnancy test.) At 10 Days Past Transfer I got a Big Fat Negative and then a Little Tiny Positive at 11 Days Past Transfer with a First Response Early Home Pregnancy Test and First Morning Urine.

If you think the slang on an infertility message board is akin to trying to decipher the texting of a 15 year old, you’re not alone! Here’s a helpful list of some of the most common acronyms to get you started. Feel free to add more in the comments.

2WW: Two Week Wait (after ovulation)

BBT: Basal Body Temperature

BD: Baby Dance (you do the math!)

BFN: Big Fat Negative

BFP: Big Fat Positive

CB: Cycle Buddy

CD: Cycle Day

CF: Cervical Fluid

DD: Dear Daughter

DH: Dear Husband

DIUI: Donor Intrauterine Insemination

DOST: Direct Oocyte-Sperm Transfer