The fertility community very much has its own lingo. We have used several of these acronyms in Glow. Here they are in no specific order:
TTC - Trying to Conceive
!TTC - Not trying to Conceive
DPO - Days Past Ovulation - used to keep track of the days of the luteal phase.
BBT - Basal Body Temperature - Your basal body temperature (BBT) is your lowest body temperature in a 24-hour period.
OPK - Ovulation Predictor Kits - These are test strips you can buy at a pharmacy that you use to determine when you are about to ovulate. Recently there are more advanced digital versions.
HPT - Home Pregnancy Test – These are hormone tests that you can take at home to determine if you are pregnant.
CD - Cycle Day - indicates what cycle day you are currently on. CD 1 is the first day of your period.
CM - Cervical Mucus - Every woman produces cervical mucus. It is a discharge that can vary throughout the cycle. It can be tacky, sticky, egg white, and lotion like. It can be clear, white, and sometimes yellow tinged. Many women find the cervical mucus check to be the best way to predict ovulation.
EWCM - Egg White Cervical Mucus - The increase in estrogen around ovulation causes a female's body to produce an abundant amount of cervical mucus. This creates a sperm friendly environment that is ideal for conception.
LH - Luteinizing Hormone - This is the hormone that surges causing ovulation. It is what OPKs check for.
hCG - Human Chorionic Gonadotropin - This hormone is what a HPT tests for. It is the pregnancy hormone.
Luteal Phase – Most women have a consistent period of time between ovulation and their period. This is identified as your luteal phase.
There are other acronyms you may see in the Community.
2WW: Two week wait (before testing, not always 2 weeks)
AF: Aunt Flo, your period.
BD: Baby Dance. Have intercourse for conception purposes or by extension any form of insemination.
BFN: Big Fat Negative (pregnancy test)
BFP: Big Fat Positive (pregnancy test)
CD: Cycle Day
CH: Crosshairs- the lines drawn on the chart to indicate ovulation
CL: Coverline
CP: Cervical Position
DH, DD, DS: Dear Husband, Dear Daughter, Dear Son
EDD: Estimated Due Date
FSH: Follicle Stimulating Hormone
GnRH: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
IUI: Intra-uterine insemination
IVF: In-vitro fertilization
LMP: Last menstrual period. The first day of your last period.
LOL: Laughing out loud
LPD: Luteal Phase Defect
M/C: Miscarriage
O: Ovulation
POAS: Pee on a stick
RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist- Fertility Specialist