Pregnancy Acronyms and Abbreviations

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Obie Editorial Team

Get to know the most common shortcuts for all things pregnancy with our complete list of pregnancy and fertility acronyms and abbreviations. Most are widely used in forums and in pregnancy and TTC communities.

Check out our Fertility, Pregnancy, and Reproductive Health Glossary!

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Y Z

Terminology

G = Gravida means # of Pregnancy
P = Parity means # of deliveries > 20 weeks , Ptpal (T=term,preterm,abortion, live child)
Term = > 37 wks,< 42 wks, or >2500 gms
Preterm = 20-37 wks,>500 gms <2500gms
Abortion = <20 weeks, <500gms,<25cm
Post term = >42 weeks
Puerperium = birth -42 days postpartum
Trimesters: 1st <12 wks, 2nd = 13-28 wks, 3rd = >28 wks

A

AB = Abortion; may see SAB (spontaneous) or TAB (therapeutic) or EAB (elective)
AC = Abdominal circumference (sono)
ACA = Anti-Cardiolipin Antibodies
ACOG = American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
ACTH = Adrenal Corticotropic Hormone
AFI = Amniotic fluid index (sono); normal = 5-20
AGA - Appropriate for Gestational Age
AH, AZH = Assisted Hatching
AI = Artificial Insemination
ANA = Anti-Nuclear Antibodies
AO = Annovulatory
APA = Anti-Phospholipid Antibodies
APTT = Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time
ART = Assisted Reproductive Technology
ASA = Anti-Sperm Antibody
ASRM = American Society of Reproductive Medicine
ATA = Anti-Thyroid Antibody
AVA = Anti-Ovarian Antibody

B

BBT = Basal Body Temperature
BC = Birth Control
BCP = Birth Control Pills
BPD = Biparietal Diameter (sono)

C

CAH = Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
CASA = Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis
CCCT= Clomiphene Citrate Challenge Test(Clomid Challenge)
CD = Cycle Day
CF = Cervical Fluid
Chl = Chlamydia, usually referring to gen probe
Chromo = Chromopertubation
CL = Corpus luteum
CM = Cervical Mucus
CMV = Cytomegalovirus
CNM = Certified Nurse Midwife
CP = Cervical position
Ctx = Contractions
CVAT = Costovetebral Angle Tenderness, a symptom of pyelonephritis
CVS = Chorionic Villi Sampling
CY = Cycle

D

D&C = Dilation and Curettage
D&E = Dilation and Evacuation
DE = Donor Eggs
DES = Diethylstilbestrol (a synthetic estrogen)
DI = Donor Insemination
DIPI = Direct Intra-Peritoneal Insemination
DM = Diabetes Mellitus, may see GDM (Gestational)
DOST = Direct Oocyte-Sperm Transfer
DPO = Days Post-Ovulation
DR = Delivery Room
Dx = Diagnosis

E

E2 = Estradiol
EB, EMB = Endometrial Biopsy
EBL = Estimated Blood Loss
EDC = Estimated Date of Confinement (Due Date)
EDD = Estimated Due Date
EFW - Estimated Fetal Weight (sono)
Endo = Endometriosis
EPT = Early Pregnancy Test
ET = Embryo Transfer
ETA = Embryo Toxicity Assay
ETF = Embryo Toxic Factor
ETLA = Enhanced TLA
EW = Egg White Consistency (refering to CM)
EWCM = Egg-White Cervical Mucus

F

FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions
FBS = Fasting Blood Sugar
FET = Frozen Embryo Transfer
FFN = Fetal Fibronectin
FH = Fundal Height
FHT = Fetal Heart Tones
FM = Fertility Monitor
FMU = First Morning Urine
FP = Follicular Phase
FRE = First Response Early
FSH = Follicle Stimulating Hormone
FTG = Foley to Gravity

G

GA = Gestational Age
GCT = Glucose Challenge Test
GIFT = Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer
GnRH = Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone
GP = General Practitioner
G#P# = gravida, para
G = total # of pregnancies
P = total # of delivered pregnancies
T = total # of term deliveries (after 37 weeks)
P = total # of preterm deliveries (20-36 weeks)
A = total # of abortions/miscarriages (before 20 weeks)
L = total # of living children
* Note: for TPA twins count as one number, but for L they count as two
GTT = Glucose Tolerance Test

H

HBsAg = Hepatitis B surface Antigen
hCG = Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (pregnancy hormone)
HCG = Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HEPA = Hamster Egg Penetration Assay
HGSIL = High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion
HMG = Human Menopausal Gonadotropin
HPT = Home Pregnancy Test
HRT = Hormone Replacement Therapy
HSC = Hysteroscopy
HSG = Hysterosalpingogram; Hysterosalpingography
HTN = hypertension, may see CHTN (chronic)
Hx = History

I

IAL = In active Labor; NIAL (not in active labor)
ICSI = IAtra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection
IDC = Indirect Coomb's test
IF = Infertility
IM = Intramuscular (injections)
INF - Infertility
IOR = Immature Oocyte Retrieval
ITI = Intra-tubal Insemination
IUFD = Intrauterine fetal demise
IUF-ET = In-vitro fertilization with embryo transfer
IUGR = Intrauterine Growth Restriction
IUI = Intrauterine Insemination
IUP = Intrauterine pregnancy; may see PTIUP (preterm), TIUP (term)
IVDA = Intravenous drug abuse
IVF = In-vitro Fertilization
IVIg = Intravenous Immunoglobulin

J

J = juvenile diabetes
JNB = jaundice in newborn

K

K = potassium
kcal = kilocalorie

L

LAD = Leukocyte Antibody Detection Assay
LAP = Laparoscopy
L/C/P = Long, Closed, Posterior cervical exam when a woman is not in labor
LGA = Large for Gestational Age
LGSIL = Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion
LH = Luteinizing Hormone
LIT = Leukocyte Immunization Therapy
LMP = Last Menstrual Period (start date)
LP = Luteal phase
LPD = Luteal Phase Defect
LTCS = Low transverse cesarean section; refers to type of incision on the uterus and not the skin
LUF = Luteinized Unruptured Follicle

M

MC, m/c, misc. = Miscarriage
MESA = Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration
MF = Male Factor
MFM = Maternal-Fetal Medicine (High Risk Ob)
MGA = Mean gestational age (sono)
MI = Menstrual index: age of pt at 1st period/cycle length/duration of period
MLE = Midline episiotomy, usually preceded by degree, e.g. 2° MLE
MMR = Measles, mumps, rubella vaccine; given to Rubella sensitive pts post-partum
MS = Morning Sickness
MSAFP = Maternal serum alpha feto protein; prenatal test for Down's if increased for neural tube defects if decreased - screening test only

N

NEST = Non-surgical Embryonic Selective Thinning
NK = Natural Killer Cells (CD56+)
NMDC = No Malignant or Dysplastic Cells; Pap Smear Results
NO = No Ovulation
NORIF = Non-Stimulated Oocyte Retrieval in (office) Fertilization
NP = Nurse Practitioner
NSA = Non-Surgical Sperm Aspiration
NST = Non-stress test; may see NST-NR (non-reactive) or NST-R (reactive)
NTD = Neural tube defect; e.g. meningomyelocele, spina bifida

O

O = Ovulation
OB = Obstetrician
Ob-Gyn = Obstetrician/Gynecologist
OC = Oral Contraceptives
OCP = Oral Contraceptive Pill; also written BCP (birth control pill)
OCT = Oxytocin Challenge Test
OHSS = Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
OPK = Ovulation Predictor Kit
OTC = Over-the-counter

P

P4 = Progesterone
PA = Physician's Assistant
PC = Post-Coital
PCO, PCOD = Polycystic Ovary Disease
PCOS = Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
PCP = Primary Care Physician
PCT = Post-Coital Test
PESA = Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration
PG = Pregnant
PGD = Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
PI = Primary Infertility
PID = Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PIO = Progesterone In Oil
PLI = Paternal Leukocyte Immunization
PML = Preterm (premature) labor
PMS = Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
PNV = Prenatal vitamins
POAS = Pee On A Stick
POD# = Post op day #
POF = Premature Ovarian Failure
PPD# = Post-partum day #
PROM = Premature Rupture of Membranes

Q

QD = every day
QAM = every morning

R

RE = Reproductive Endocrinologist (Infertility specialist)
R-hFSH = Recombinant Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone
RI = Reproductive Immunologist
ROM = Rupture of membranes (broken bag of water); may see AROM (artificial), PROM (preterm = less than 37 weeks), SROM (spontaneous), PPROM (preterm, premature = 12 to 24 hours before labor starts)
ROS = Reactive Oxygen Species
RPL = Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
RSA = Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
Rub = Rubella, usually refers to the titer
Rx = Prescription