I hope these lists help you decode my posts. The definitions I have here should help you understand some terms I will use including different types of pregnancies and losses. (D
Let’s start with the most important definition…
Infertility: A disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.
- Aneuploid: a genetically abnormal embryo
- Anovulation: Occurs when a woman skips ovulation. *Can also be referred to as an anovulatory cycle.
- Antagonist Protocol: IVF cycle protocol that uses injectable drugs called Antagonists to prevent premature ovulation. Antagonists shut down the pituitary gland immediately. This protocol is most often used in women with PCOS or who are at risk fro not stimulating well.
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone: A hormone secreted by cells in developing egg sacs. The level of AMH in a woman’s blood is generally a good indicator of her ovarian reserve.
- Beta (Blood Test): Used to diagnose pregnancy based on HCG level.
- Chemical Pregnancy: A very early miscarriage occurring before the fifth week of gestation and well before the fetus can be visibly detected on an ultrasound.
- Clomid: a non-steroidal fertility medicine that causes the pituitary gland to release hormones needed to stimulate ovulation. Used to cause ovulation in women with certain medical conditions (such as polycystic ovary syndrome) that prevent naturally occurring ovulation.
- Conception: The penetration of the egg by the sperm and the resulting combining of genetic material that develops into an embryo. *Also known as Fertilization.
- Cryopreservation: The process of freezing embryos from a couple’s Assisted Reproductive Technology cycle for potential future use. *the same can be done with eggs and sperm.
- Diminished Ovarian Reserve: A diagnosed condition where the ovary’s ability to produce eggs is reduced. Reasons may either be congenital, medical, surgical causes or advanced maternal age (older than 40).
- Ectopic Pregnancy: A pregnancy where the fertilized egg implants in a location outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube, the ovary, or the abdominal cavity.
- Egg Retrieval (also called Oocyte Retrieval)
: A procedure to collect the eggs contained in the ovarian follicles. This is used during IVF or Egg Preservation. - Embryo: An egg that has been fertilized by a sperm and undergone one or more divisions.
- Embryo Transfer: The procedure of placing an embryo into a woman’s uterus through the cervix after IVF. During the process of zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT), the embryos are placed in a woman’s fallopian tube.
- Euploid: a genetically normal embryo.
- Evap (Evaporation) Line: Caused by evaporation of the urine in the result window of a home pregnancy test; develops when the urine on the test area begins to dry, leaving a faint, colorless line; appears as a result of the composition of the particular urine specimen – and they may appear on any test regardless of brand.
- Fertilization: The penetration of the egg by the sperm and the resulting combining of genetic material that develops into an embryo. *Also known as Conception.
- Follicle: A fluid-filled sac in the ovaries that contains an immature or developing egg.
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that helps an egg mature and release. High levels of FSH indicate ovarian reserve is low and chances of conception are poor.
- HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin): The hormone produced during pregnancy.
- HSG (hysterosalpingogram): a special form of x-rays taken of the fallopian tubes and uterus. These examinations allow your RE to determine internal health conditions that may be causing infertility or difficulty with pregnancy.
- ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection): A procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg; this procedure is most commonly used to overcome male factor infertility.
- Implantation: The attachment of the fertilized egg to the uterine lining, occurring approximately 6 or 7 days after conception (fertilization).
- Intervention: seeking the help of a doctor to achieve pregnancy
- IUI (Intrauterine Insemination): A medical procedure that involves placing sperm into a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization. IUI is not considered an ART procedure because it does not involve the manipulation of eggs.
- IVF (In Vitro Fertilization): An ART procedure that involves removing eggs from a woman’s ovaries and fertilizing them outside her body. The resulting embryos are then transferred into the woman’s uterus through the cervix.
- Letrozole: This oral pill stimulates your ovaries to release an egg (or eggs), helping to correct irregular ovulation or working to induce ovulation if you’re not ovulating at all.
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH): An important hormone can indicate underlying problems associated with a variety of reproductive health issue. This hormone is known as a gonadotropin, and it affects a woman’s ovaries.
- Miscarriage (also called spontaneous abortion): A pregnancy ending in the spontaneous loss of the embryo or fetus before 20 weeks of gestation.
- Missed Miscarriage: When the baby has stopped growing or died but with no miscarriage symptoms such as bleeding or pain. It can also be called a delayed or silent miscarriage.
- Ovulation: Occurs when a mature egg is released from the ovary, pushed down the fallopian tube, and is made available to be fertilized.
- PGT-A (pregenetic testing for aneuploidies): testing performed on a small biopsy of an embryo that identifies chromosomal imbalances.
- SIS or SHG (saline infused sonohysterography): A procedure used to evaluate the uterus and shape of the uterine cavity using saline and an abdominal sonogram to view the ovaries.
- Sperm Morphology: The size and shape of individual sperm. It is one of the contributing factors to male factor infertility.
- Sperm Motility: The sperm’s ability to readily swim forward to fertilize the egg; a
lso referred to as sperm mobility. - Sperm Wash: A form of sperm preparation that removes chemicals from the semen that is required prior to IUI or IVF. During this process, sperm is separated from the seminal fluid, enhancing the fertilizing capacity of the sperm.
- Subcutaneous Needle or Injection (referred to this as “subcue”): shallow needle that goes into the fatty tissue just below the skin. Since these are relatively shallow shots, the needle required is small and short—typically one-half to five-eighths of an inch long with a gauge of 25 to 30.
- Trigger Warning: a warning that the following content may upset the reader.
- Uterine Fibroid: noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. Fibroids range in size from seedlings, undetectable by the human eye, to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus.
- Uterine Lining: The inner layer of the uterus. Ideally between 8-14mm for healthy implantation. Also known as the Endometrium.
When using acronyms, I will (try to) always spell out a phrase before using an acronym for the first time, and I will try to do this with each post. There are so many more acronyms and pregnancy-related terms than the ones listed below, but for now, I will start with these as they are all ones that currently apply to our story.
- AF: Aunt Flo
- ART: Assisted Reproductive Technology
- BD: Baby Dance (sex)
- BFN: Big Fat Negative (pregnancy test)
- BFP: Big Fat Positive (pregnancy test)
- BW: Bloodwork
- CD__: Cycle Day
- DPIUI: Days Post IUI
- DPO: Days Post-Ovulation
- Dx: Diagnosis
- FFI: Female Factor Infertility
- FIRM: Florida Institute of Reproductive Medicine (our clinic)
- FSH: Follicle Stimulating Hormone
- FRER: First Response Early Result (Home Pregnancy Test)
- HPT: Home Pregnancy Test
- HSG: Hysterosalpingogram
- IF: Infertility
- IR: Insulin Resistant/Resistance
- IUI: Intra-Uterine Insemination
- IVF: In Vitro Fertilization
- LH: Luteinizing Hormone
- MC: Miscarriage
- MF: Metformin
- MFI: Male Factor Infertility
- MTI: Medicated Timed Intercourse
- NP: Nurse Practitioner
- O: Ovulation
- OBGYN: Obstetrician-Gynecologist
- OHSS: Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
- OPK: Ovulation Predictor Kit (test)
- P: Period
- P4: Progesterone
- PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- PCP: Primary Care Physician
- PG: Pregnant
- PI: Primary Infertility
- PID: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- PIO: Progesterone in Oil
- PUPO: Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise (used for IVF)
- RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist (Infertility Specialist)
- Rx: Prescription
- SA: Semen Analysis
- SW: Sperm Wash
- TI: Timed Intercourse
- TS: Trigger Shot
- TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
- TTC: Trying to Conceive
- TW: Trigger Warning
- TWW: Two Week Wait (from ovulation/insemination to menstruation/pregnancy)
- Tx: Treatment
- US: Ultrasound