So many acronyms! A brief guide to TTC jargon

[deductivemom]

I have only just started TTC but spent the past year-ish preparing for the big day (the first day of BDing that is)! While lurking on TTC boards, it took me weeks to be able to actually read all the way through a standard post because there were so many unfamiliar terms and acronyms, and even once I became more familiar I usually had to have a second tab open to look something up. The terms range from hilarious to mystifying. If you are in the same boat, check out my blog post that contains a fertility forum dictionary (with explanations).

Below are some of the highlights:

• 
  POAS = pee on a stick. The act of taking a urine-based fertility or pregnancy test. The same term applies even if the specific test involves dipping a strip in urine rather than peeing directly on it. The acronym is versatile and can be used to indicate any verb tense (e.g. "I POAS last week and got a BFN" or "You should definitely POAS first thing tomorrow!"). See also, POAS addict.

• POAS addict = someone who is obsessed with taking urine-based tests. Rather than being frustrated by a string of negative or ambiguous test results, this type of person loves the additional data provided by each OPK or pregnancy test. A POAS addict will often take multiple inexpensive tests in a single day, and will almost certainly start testing for pregnancy well before a positive result is likely. The term is typically only used self-referentially (e.g., "Since I started using OPKs, I've become a total POAS addict"), as the neurotic tendencies implied by the term could potentially be offensive if used to describe another person.

• AF = aunt flow. Monthly menstrual period or, in some cases, the withdrawal bleed that occurs during the placebo week while taking hormonal contraceptives. Women who are TTC dread the appearance of AF and spend a considerable amount of time analyzing potential symptoms of its approach, including temperature changes, PMS symptoms, and cramps (although many premenstrual symptoms can also be early pregnancy symptoms).

• BFP = big fat positive (see also, BFN below). A positive pregnancy test result (whether by HPT or blood test conducted by a medical professional).

• BFN = big fat negative. A negative pregnancy test result--an outcome most feared by women who are TTC.

• Squinter = a positive pregnancy test result that is so faint it can only be seen by squinting or holding the test in a certain light or at a specific angle. Often what is hoped to be a squinter is later revealed to be an evap line instead (see below). Positive pregnancy test results that happen very early in terms of days after ovulation are often this type of result (followed by a stronger positive some time later that confirms it was not an evap instead).

• Evap (line) = a visible test line on a pregnancy test that does not indicate pregnancy and happens when the test line becomes more visible or colors slightly as the liquid evaporates. An evap line is more likely to appear on a test that is scrutinized after the time span the test instructions allow (e.g., the instructions say to read the results after 5 minutes, but the evap line is only visible after 20 minutes). Unfortunately, both a squinter and an evap line can appear after the allowable test time.

• Baby dust = a blessing and a common valediction or signoff. Baby dust is the presumed mystical substance that is present in the atmosphere when a woman is able to conceive (conceptually similar to Tinkerbell's pixie dust, which grants magical abilities). Often accompanied by the adjective "sticky", which indicates that the baby dust in question is particularly potent (e.g. "Wishing you all lots of sticky baby dust this month!"). The term can be applied prior to conception attempts (that is, before ovulation in a given month) or after during the two week wait or just prior to taking a pregnancy test (apparently baby dust's magical properties allow it to defy the natural conception timeline). Wishing someone baby dust is the fertility forum equivalent of saying "Good luck". The writer may also wish baby dust upon herself, as long as others are included in the blessing as well.

What terms mystified you when you first joined the online TTC community? What are your faves?

 

[SamStormchase]

haha, loads... I googled and found this and have it open to this day https://www.mymonthlycycles.com/fertility-abbreviations.jsp

DTD was one I was like whaaaaaaaaat? And DH? WHAAAAAAAAT LOL

 

[mrshan]

I think OH means "other half" from context clues, but I'm still not 100% sure, lol.

I had an idea to (when it happens) announce my pregnancy on Facebook completely in TTC acronyms- most of my friends would just reply with ???, and a couple girls would get it right away.

 

[Khigg19]

Mrshan, for the longest time, I thought OH was "ornery husband". Hahah. I was like, "if you can't call him dear or darling, why do you want to procreate with him?!" But, yes, I've since figured out that it's other half.

 

[oregoon]

Mrshan, for the longest time, I thought OH was "ornery husband". Hahah. I was like, "if you can't call him dear or darling, why do you want to procreate with him?!" But, yes, I've since figured out that it's other half.

Lol!!! Ornery husband... That is too funny

 

[Wish2BMom]

this is hysterical and some things still get me. Thank you for your wonderful definitions!! Esp evap line - I was still wondering what that was really. I haven't come close to that yet. wah wah wahhhhh way to bring the room down, Wish...

I was perplexed on fmu and smu - first morning urination and second morning urination (if anyone is still guessing at those).

I told my mom about this site, how wonderful it is and told her to check it out. She said there were WAYY too many acronyms for her to follow.

mrshan - that's a great idea!!

I've been on this long enough now where my immediate thought is to ask DH 'want to BD tonight?' or use 'BD' to refer to it. I REFUSE to do that though b/c I do NOT want to tell him it means 'baby dance'!!! Talk about killing the mood!!

 

[oregoon]

One I just learned that I didn't know- FRER= first response early result (brand of pregnancy tests)

I too am still unsure what an "evap" is exactly. I know its when the test has sat too long, but some people have said they got an evap within minutes. Huh?

 

[Khigg19]

I think that's because a lot of women just use the term evap to generalize other issues like dye runs, over saturation, not lying the test flat, taking the test apart, etc. I've never had an evap because I throw the test away after 3 minutes. No point in going back. That just creates false hope. I'm not judging anyone though, for wanting so badly. I'm just determined to stay as sane as possible during this journey and for me, that means test in the trash, no second guessing.

This link is a good rule of thumb for HPT & OPKs. https://community.babycenter.com/post/a41731651/hpt_opk_question_and_answer.

 

[deductivemom]

this is hysterical and some things still get me. Thank you for your wonderful definitions!! Esp evap line - I was still wondering what that was really. I haven't come close to that yet. wah wah wahhhhh way to bring the room down, Wish...

I was perplexed on fmu and smu - first morning urination and second morning urination (if anyone is still guessing at those).


I've been on this long enough now where my immediate thought is to ask DH 'want to BD tonight?' or use 'BD' to refer to it. I REFUSE to do that though b/c I do NOT want to tell him it means 'baby dance'!!! Talk about killing the mood!!

Thanks for the reply! FMU and SMU are great additions I should def have on the list, as well as FRER which was also mentioned. And I have never even seen OH (or maybe I just glaze over it), but I really prefer Ornery Husband to Other Half, :-D

Wish2BMom, I am so in the same boat about the evap line. I'd take any hint of a wish for a BFP at this point. I am 9dpo and had my first BFN this morning for this cycle. I like to keep the negative tests so that when I do someday have a BFP I can compare them and be convinced I'm not just losing it (although I agree with PP that this can make you go a bit nuts looking at them again)!

RE the term "baby dance", DH and I have actually affectionately adopted it. I thought he might think it was a mood killer too, but one day he was amused by my description of all the TTC acronyms and was trying to guess what different ones meant (I really stumped him with TWW!), and then after that he spontaneously started using the term "baby dance". So it can work

Thanks for all the replies! Baby dust all around!!!

 

[Wish2BMom]

GL to all TTC'ers in your TWW!

 

[Firefly Skies]

Half of my googles are in pure acronym. I tried sharing some stuff with DH and had to stop and say, "wait, let me translate all of what I just said..."