Anti-cardiolipin Antibody

Anti-cardiolipin antibodies are by definition a major criterion for a diagnosis of APS. They are found in around 30-40% of patients with SLE. In both patients with primary and SLE associated APS positive results correlate with a predisposition for arterial or venous thrombosis, foetal loss, or thrombocytopoenia.

Adrenal Corticotropic Hormone

Adrenocorticotropic hormone is a polypeptide tropic hormone produced by and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It is also used as a medication and diagnostic agent. ACTH is an important component of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and is often produced in response to biological stress.

“Aunt Flo:” menstrual cycle (AF) 

Aunt Flo (AF) is another way to say menstrual period. The term was coined in reference to unwelcome family members who show up unexpectedly for a visit.

Assisted Hatching

Assisted zona hatching is a procedure of assisted reproductive technology in which a small hole is made in the zona pellucida, using a micromanipulator, thereby facilitating for zona hatching to occur. Zona hatching is where the blastocyst gets rid of the surrounding zona pellucida to be able to implant in the uterus.

Artificial/Assisted Insemination (AI)

Artificial insemination (AI) is the deliberate introduction of sperm into a female's cervix or uterine cavity for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy through in vivo fertilization by means other than sexual intercourse or in vitro fertilization.

Anti-nuclear Antibodies (ANA)

Antinuclear antibodies are autoantibodies that bind to contents of the cell nucleus. In normal individuals, the immune system produces antibodies to foreign proteins but not to human proteins. In some cases, antibodies to human antigens are produced.

Anti-phospholipid Antibodies (APA)

It is an essential process in the body's ability to regulate the clotting of blood. Antiphospholipid antibody test helps diagnose the reasons for recurrent miscarriage; asses or monitor a prolonged PTT (partial thromboplastin time) or assess the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

Activated Partial Thrombo Time (APTT)

The partial thromboplastin time or activated partial thromboplastin time is a blood test that characterizes coagulation of the blood. A historical name for this measure is the kaolin-cephalin clotting time, reflecting kaolin and cephalin as materials historically used in the test.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

Assisted reproductive technology includes medical procedures used primarily to address infertility. This subject involves procedures such as in vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, cryopreservation of gametes or embryos, and/or the use of fertility medication.

Anti-sperm Antibody (ASA)

An antisperm antibody test looks for special proteins (antibodies) that fight against a man's sperm in blood, vaginal fluids, or semen. The test uses a sample of sperm and adds a substance that binds only to affected sperm. Semen can cause an immune system response in either the man's or woman's body.

American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine is a nonprofit, multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the advancement of the science and practice of reproductive medicine. The society has its headquarters in Birmingham, AL and a public affairs office in Washington, DC.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT)

Basal body temperature is the lowest body temperature attained during rest. It is usually estimated by a temperature measurement immediately after awakening and before any physical activity has been undertaken. This will lead to a somewhat higher value than the true BBT.

Beta Test

A blood test that picks up the amount of hCG in your blood which occurs when the embryo implants in your uterus. *a note about beta-hCG testing: once a positive beta is established, you should retest in 48 hours to confirm the hCG level is doubling. If you experience a miscarriage, your Doctor should track your hCG level back to negligible (this can take time.) 

CD: Cycle Day

A reference to the days of a treatment cycle or any menstrual cycle when trying to conceive.

Cervical Mucus (CM)

Cervical mucus is fluid or gel-like discharge from the cervix. Throughout a woman's menstrual cycle, the thickness and amount of cervical mucus changes. This is because of hormone levels fluctuating throughout your cycle.

Dilation & Curettage (D&C)

A procedure to remove tissue from inside your uterus. Doctors perform dilation and curettage to diagnose and treat certain uterine conditions — such as heavy bleeding — or to clear the uterine lining after a miscarriage or abortion.

Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)

A condition affecting nearly one-third of infertility patients, refers to a decrease in the quality and quantity of a woman’s eggs in her ovaries, which impacts her fertility.

Days Post-Ovulation (DPO)

Ovulation happens when one of your ovaries releases an egg into your fallopian tube. If a healthy sperm is waiting for that egg, conception might take place.

Days Post-Retrieval (DPR)

Days post-retrieval is a common method used to count the number of days that pass after a woman’s eggs are retrieved for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). There are several significant milestones that occur after egg retrieval that are measured in days-post-retrieval; these include fertilization, evaluation of fertilized eggs, and transfer of fertilized eggs into the uterus.

Days Post-Transfer (DPT)

Days post-transfer (DPT) refers to the number of days that have passed since the embryo transfer portion of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure.

DP3DT: Days Post 3-Day Transfer

DP5DT: Days Post 5-Day Transfer

Estradiol (E2) 

Also spelled oestradiol, E2 is an estrogen steroid hormone and the major female sex hormone. It is involved in the regulation of the estrous and menstrual female reproductive cycles. Estradiol is responsible for the development of female secondary sexual characteristics such as the breasts, widening of the hips, and a female-associated pattern of fat distribution and is important in the development and maintenance of female reproductive tissues such as the mammary glands, uterus, and vagina during puberty, adulthood, and pregnancy. It also has important effects in many other tissues including bone, fat, skin, liver, and the brain.

Endometriosis

Defined as the presence of tissue somewhat similar to the endometrium - endometrial-like - found in extrauterine sites, the aberrant processes involved in endometriosis give rise to pain, inflammation, development of endometriomas (“chocolate cysts”), fibrosis, formation of adhesions (fibrous bands of dense tissue), organ dysfunction and more. Alterations in certain biological processes of the endocrine and immune systems have also been observed with the disease, and endometriosis is embodied by a complexity of multiple immunologic abnormalities, endocrine alterations and unusual expression of adhesion molecules. The origins of the disease remain under constant debate, ranging from theories like cellular metaplasia, which according to the World Health Organization is “when cells outside the uterus change into endometrial-like cells and start to grow,” to ongoing hypotheses about embryonic cell rest, implantation and many others.

What it feels like: common, oft-debilitating symptoms of, and potential associations with, endometriosis include (but are not limited to):

• Crippling period pain in people who menstruate

• Abdominopelvic pain at any time, often intractable and chronic (meaning 6 months or longer of non-menstrual pelvic pain)

• Bowel or urinary disorders/pain/dysfunction

• Painful intercourse/penetration/sexual activity

• Pain with tampon insertion/inability to use tampons due to pain

• Infertility/pregnancy loss/possible link to preterm births

• Possible immune-related and other comorbid disorders

• Allergies, migraines or fatigue in some; may tend to worsen around menses

• Coughing up blood in cases of pleural/thoracic endometriosis

• Leg and lower back pain, particularly in cases of sciatic endometriosis

• The disease may also resemble some symptoms of, and has been linked to, adenomyosis

• Data also links chronic fatigue with menstrual abnormalities, endometriosis, pelvic pain, hysterectomy, and early/surgical menopause in some patients

• Comorbid pain syndromes, mood conditions and asthma have been documented in some individuals with endometriosis

Rainbow Baby

A baby conceived after a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. 

BFP: “Big fat positive”

This refers to a positive home pregnancy test — typically, two parallel lines or two lines that form a plus sign, depending on your brand of test.

BFN: “Big fat negative”

This refers to a negative home pregnancy test — typically one line on a stark white background.

IVF: In Vitro Fertilization

A complex series of procedures used to help with fertility or prevent genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs (embryos) are transferred to a uterus. One full cycle of IVF takes about three weeks. 

IVIG: Intravenous immunoglobulin

A sterile solution of concentrated antibodies extracted from healthy people that is administered directly into a vein. Abbreviated IVIG. IVIG is used to treat disorders of the immune system or to boost the immune response to serious illness. Also known as intravenous gamma globulin (IGG).

IUI: intrauterine insemination

A type of fertility treatment that involves placing sperm inside a woman's uterus close to the fallopian tubes in order to increase the chances of conceiving.

Progesterone

Progesterone is a hormone released by the corpus luteum in the ovary. It plays important roles in the menstrual cycle and in maintaining the early stages of pregnancy. Progesterone prepares the body for pregnancy in the event that the released egg is fertilized. If the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum breaks down, the production of progesterone falls and a new menstrual cycle begins. If the egg is fertilized, progesterone stimulates the growth of blood vessels that supply the lining of the womb (endometrium) and stimulates glands in the endometrium to secrete nutrients that nourish the early embryo. Progesterone then prepares the tissue lining of the uterus to allow the fertilized egg to implant and helps to maintain the endometrium throughout pregnancy. During the early stages of pregnancy, progesterone is still produced by the corpus luteum and is essential for supporting the pregnancy and establishing the placenta. Once the placenta is established, it then takes over progesterone production at around week 8-12 of pregnancy. During pregnancy, progesterone plays an important role in the development of the fetus; stimulates the growth of maternal breast tissue; prevents lactation; and strengthens the pelvic wall muscles in preparation for labor. The level of progesterone in the body steadily rises throughout pregnancy until labor occurs and the baby is born. Although the corpus luteum in the ovaries is the major site of progesterone production in humans, progesterone is also produced in smaller quantities by the ovaries themselves, the adrenal glands and, during pregnancy, the placenta.

PIO: Progesterone in Oil

This in an intramuscular injection that gets the progesterone directly into the muscle. This administration allows for more accurate tracking of the progesterone level. It can be painful. Pro tip: warm up the oil vial prior to injection. Ice the area prior to injection and massage afterwards. 

FTM: “First time mom”

RPL: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Recurrent miscarriage is two or more consecutive pregnancy losses. In many cases the cause of RPL is unknown. After three or more losses, a thorough evaluation is recommended by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. About 1% of couples trying to have children are affected by recurrent miscarriage.

RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist/Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

A surgical subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology that trains physicians in reproductive medicine addressing hormonal functioning as it pertains to reproduction as well as the issue of infertility. While most REI specialists primarily focus on the treatment of infertility, reproductive endocrinologists are trained to also test and treat hormonal dysfunctions in females and males outside infertility. Reproductive endocrinologists have specialty training in obstetrics and gynecology before they undergo sub-specialty training in REI.

RI: Reproductive Immunologist/Reproductive Immunology

Refers to a field of medicine that studies interactions between the immune system and components related to the reproductive system, such as maternal immune tolerance towards the fetus, or immunological interactions across the blood-testis barrier.

OBGYN: Obstetrics and Gynaecology (British English) or obstetrics and Gynecology (American English)

A medical specialty that encompasses the two subspecialties of obstetrics (covering pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period) and gynecology (covering the health of the female reproductive system – vagina, uterus, ovaries, and breasts).

Two Week Wait

The time between ovulation and a potential positive pregnancy test