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All Of Those TTC Message Board Acronyms Explained, According To An Expert

by Abi Berwager Schreier

If you’re in a trying to conceive (TTC) community online, you’ll find camaraderie, support, advice, and a whole lot of acronyms. When you’re reading through the posts and comments, sometimes all these letters being thrown around start to look like alphabet soup, and you don’t even know what you’re reading. So what do the TTC message board acronyms mean? It seems like it’s another language and honestly, any list isn't going to be definitive. I’m sure there will be more acronyms created as more and more women begin to use these groups while TTC, and more circumstances arise. Remember, some acronyms differ depending on which group you’re in, because apparently, online communities like to make things complicated.

But this list should be pretty helpful and get you off to a confident start. It's comprised from a list posted in a TTC group on Facebook (which I am in) by Shianne Shampo, who is a group administrator and has been compiling a term list throughout her time spent using TTC groups, and twoweekwait.com.

The Basics

The most common things women talk about in the TTC forums, in my experience, are tracking their symptoms, their fertile window, tracking and discussing ovulation, and testing for ovulation and pregnancy.

  • AAMOF – As a Matter of Fact
  • ADN – Any Day Now
  • AF – Aunt Flo (period)
  • BBT – Basal Body Temperature (what you test to determine when you’re ovulating, and sometimes if you’re pregnant)
  • BC – Birth Control
  • BD – Baby Dancing (sex)
  • BFN – Big Fat Negative (negative pregnancy test)
  • BFP – Big Fat Positive (positive pregnancy test)
  • CB – Cycle Buddy
  • CD – Cycle Day
  • CF – Cervical Fluid
  • CM – Cervical Mucus
  • CP – Cervical Position
  • DPC – Days Since Last Clomid (pill was taken)
  • DPO – Days Past Ovulation
  • DTD – Do the Deed
  • EDD – Estimated Due Date
  • EPO – Evening Primrose Oil
  • EPT – Early Pregnancy Test
  • EW or EWCM – “Egg White” or “Egg White” Cervical Mucus (description of cervical mucus at ovulation time or throughout your cycle)
  • FV – Fertile Vibes
  • FLO – an even shorter term for your period
  • FX – Fingers Crossed (for a BFP or that the pregnancy “sticks,” i.e., you don’t have a miscarriage or chemical pregnancy)
  • hCG, HCG - Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (the pregnancy hormone tests look for)
  • HPT – Home Pregnancy Test
  • LH – Luteinizing Hormone (the hormone ovulation prediction kits are checking for to see when you're ovulating)
  • LMP – Last Menstrual Period (first day)
  • LO – Love Olympics (sex)
  • LP – Luteal Phase
  • LSP – Low Sperm Count
  • MC – Miscarriage
  • MS – Morning Sickness
  • NFP – Natural Family Planning
  • O – Ovulation
  • OPK – Ovulation Predictor Test Kit
  • PG – Pregnant
  • POAS – Pee On A Stick
  • SB – Stillbirth
  • TI – Timed Intercourse
  • TIA – Thanks in Advance
  • TMI – Too Much Information (if you post a photo in the comments of cervical mucus or spotting on toilet paper)
  • TTC – Trying to Conceive
  • Tx – Treatment
  • 2WW/TWW – 2 Week Wait (time period following ovulation until next expected period — also known as the longest two weeks ever)

Relationships

Because sometimes saying husband, partner, spouse, etc., takes too much time, which could be spent BDing. See what I did there?

  • DH, DW, DP, DS, DD, DF, DB, – Dear Husband, Dear Wife, Dear Partner, Dear Son, Dear Daughter, Dear Fiancé, Dear Boyfriend, etc.
  • DSD, DSS – Dear Step-Daughter, Dear Step-Son
  • MIL, FIL, BIL, SIL – Mother-in-Law, Father-in-Law, Brother-in-Law, Sister-in-Law, etc.
  • SD – Step-Daughter
  • SS – Step-Son
  • SO – Significant Other

Medical Terms/Procedures

The use of these acronyms are really understandable to me, because some of these medical terms are super long and hard to spell — and nobody wants to look like they are a bad speller. (Maybe that’s just me?)

But seriously, what's with all these acronyms? According to Julia Wang, head of digital content for The Bump, using acronyms in a community forum is a way to show to others in the group you're "one of them," and you speak their language. "In subconscious ways, using the right acronyms creates a strong affinity with your peers. It's no different from when you visit a different country and are learning to speak the host country's language. Immediately you have a point of common ground," she tells Romper in an email interview. And in mom/TTC community boards, Wang says that common ground is no different.

As for how awesome TTC groups can be for women, Shampo (who compiled an acronym list) tells Romper she loves TTC groups because they are "a nice place to get some opinion-based things, facts, and even old wives' tales. It's such a great mix of information and support."

Shampo is right. In my experience, these TTC groups are so supportive and encouraging during what can be a very stressful, but exciting time in your life. Even the use of acronyms can build a community vibe, because it's almost like your own secret code language that only women are in tune to. If you're looking for your BFP, I wish you lots of "baby dust," as they also say in the groups. And if you aren't currently in a TTC group, I highly recommend it. They definitely help you feel like you're not alone in your journey.