TTC Meaning: The Language of Trying to Conceive

We’ve all been there.

The fertility community’s shorthand chat can be a tough nut to crack — but with a little help, you’ll soon be fluent.

If you’re trying to get pregnant and you’ve recently joined Peanut for advice and support, you might’ve spotted some unknown lingo.

It can be confusing, but it doesn’t need to be isolating.

We can happily affirm there’s no gatekeeping going on here.

Instead, it’s about making things quick, simple, and easy to talk about.

Starting with the TTC meaning, let’s break down everything you need to know about the language of trying to conceive, one acronym at a time.

Baby steps, if you will.

In this article: 📝

What is DTD, TTC, and BFP?

If that question left you scratching your head, you’re in the right place.

Better yet, you’re not alone.

In the fertility community, it’s not uncommon to use all sorts of acronyms and abbreviations.

And it comes from a good place.

Trying to conceive is complicated enough without adding isolating (and sometimes outdated) terminology.

Because, let’s be real, some of the terms used in the world of TTC are long, complicated, and hard to spell.

Others are personal and sensitive.

And some are, let’s face it, a bit off-putting.

Using the shorthand keeps the conversation on track and saves everyone time in the process.

So, instead of typing out Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (a type of assisted reproductive treatment) every single time, it gets shortened to ZIFT.

Before you know it, mamas are talking about using FMU to POAS in the hopes of a BFP (first morning urine to pee on a stick for a big fat positive pregnancy test).

And that’s just the tip of the TTC iceberg!

From AFNW to EWCM, you could do a whole course on decoding pregnancy abbreviations.

Or you could delve into our TTC cheat sheet with some useful resources thrown in the mix.

What does TTC mean?

Let’s ease into this.

In the Peanut community, TTC has zero to do with the Toronto Transit Commission and everything to do with trying to conceive – and that’s exactly what TTC means.

TTC can be a lonely journey for some mamas and their partners.

Maybe your closest friends aren’t on the same page just yet, or as a same-sex couple, the steps you need to take are entirely different.

The TTC community can be the very thing to help you overcome the loneliness.

Fertility acronyms do more than facilitate conversations; they bond parents-to-be together.

Is TTC a medical term?

Not exactly, no – though medical terms are part of it.

TTC is best understood as the fertility support groups found on message boards, websites, and of course, Peanut. 🥜

At its most basic, TTC is a popular acronym but spend a little time in the Peanut TTC world, and you will see it’s anything but.

What is another term for getting pregnant?

Not feeling the TTC meaning?

You may find you identify better with TTCAL (‘trying to conceive after loss’) or maybe feel the TTC meaning doesn’t fully capture your first-hand experience of having a low ovarian reserve.

And that’s ok.

If TTC doesn’t fit your particular journey, we created an entire glossary of updated fertility and pregnancy terms as part of our #renamingrevolution.

We’re talking everything from reproductive struggles to 35+ pregnancy.

Just remember that TTC is a community space first – one where you can talk freely and not feel judged by outdated fertility language or intimidated by medical terminology .

Stepping into the world of Peanut’s TTC community is about finding solid advice, well-needed encouragement, and information from other women who are in there with you.

So, let’s get you fluent in TTC lingo and in those conversations.

Because we’re having them!

Your TTC Meaning Cheat Sheet

Stress no more. We’re breaking down the most common TTC acronym meanings from AF to ZIFT:

TTC meanings from AF to EWCM

Let’s get the conversations started:

• AF: Aunt Flo (your period).
• AFNW: Aunt Flo Not Wanted
• AFSA: Aunt Flo Stay Away
• AI: Artificial Insemination
• ART: Assisted Reproductive Technology. These are all fertility treatments where embryos or eggs are handled.
• AWOL: A Woman on Lupron (This refers to the mood swings that can occur when on this common fertility drug for IVF treatment.
• BA: Baby Aspirin
• BBT: Basal Body Temperature (This is your body's temperature when you first wake up in the morning; it rises around the time of ovulation, helping you work out when you’re fertile)
• BCP: Birth Control Pills
• BD: Baby Dance (This is just another way to talk about getting busy, especially at your most fertile); BD can also mean “Baby Dust,” a cute way of wishing someone good luck in the hopes that they get pregnant. E.g. “A sprinkling of BD.”
• BFN: Big Fat Negative (A negative pregnancy test)
• BFP: Big Fat Positive (A positive pregnancy test)
• BMS: Baby-Making Sex
• BOB: Baby on the Brain
• BV: Baby Vibes. Like Baby Dust, these are positive vibes to give someone in the hopes they’ll conceive. Spread generously!
• BW: Blood Work
• CB: Cycle Buddy (This is someone on a similar cycle, ovulating about the same time, or planning to take a pregnancy test around the same time as you)
• CCCT: Clomiphene Citrate Challenge Test (A type of fertility test)
• CD: Cycle Day
• CM: Cervical Mucus
• CP: Cervical Position
• DE: Donor Eggs
• DI: Donor Insemination
• DTD: Doing the Deed ([Sex]how-long-does-it-take-to-get-pregnant-after-sex))
• DPO: Days Past Ovulation
• EDD: Estimated Due Date
• ENDO: Endometriosis
• EP: Ectopic Pregnancy
• EPT: Early Pregnancy Test
• ET: Embryo Transfer (During IVF
• EWCM: Egg White Cervical Mucus (A description of cervical mucus at ovulation time — the best time to DTD if you’re TTC)

TTC meanings from FE to LSC

Even more common terms you’ll see in our TTC community:

• FE: Frozen Embryo
• FET: Frozen Embryo Transfer
• FMU: First Morning Urine
• FTTA: Fertile Thoughts to All
• FX: Fingers Crossed
• HCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (The hormone pregnancy tests detect to determine pregnancy)
• HPT: Home Pregnancy Test
• IF: Infertility
• IPS: Imaginary Pregnancy Symptoms
• IUI: Intrauterine Insemination
• IVF: In Vitro Fertilization
• IVM: In Vitro Maturation
• ICSI: Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection
• LMP: Last Menstrual Period
• LSC: Low Sperm Count

TTC meanings from M/C to SOD

Not every TTC conversation is easy, but with these abbreviations at least you know you’re not alone:

• M/C: Miscarriage
• MS: Morning Sickness
• NCM: Natural Cycle Monitoring
• O: Ovulation
• OB: Obstetrician
• OHSS: Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
• OI: Ovulation Induction
• OPK: Ovulation Predictor Kit (This is a store-bought test that predicts when you’ll start ovulating)
• PCT: Post-Coital Test
• PCOS: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• PG: Pregnant
• PID: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
• PNV: Prenatal Vitamin
• POAS: Pee On A Stick (Take a pregnancy test at home)
• PUPO: Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise
• RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist (A type of fertility specialist)
• RI: Reproductive Immunologist (Also a fertility specialist)
• RPL: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
• SA: Semen Analysis.
• S/B: Stillborn or Stillbirth
• SM: Surrogate Mother
• STIMS: Stimulating Hormones
• SP: Sperm Count
• SOD: Sex on Demand (Sex on schedule or at set times during fertility treatment)

TTC meaning from TWW to ZIFT

You know the TTC meaning but what about these other acronyms that start with T?

• TWW: Two-Week Wait (The wait after ovulation when you’re TTC)
• TCOYF: Taking Charge of Your Fertility (A popular book about fertility awareness by Toni Weschler)
• TESE: Testicular Sperm Extraction
• TI: Timed Intercourse
• TIA: Thanks In Advance
• TMI: Too Much Information
• TTC: Trying to Conceive
• TS: Traditional Surrogate
• TW: Trigger Warning (A warning that the post may contain a reference to a loss)
• U/S: Ultrasound
• VR: Vasectomy Reversal
• VVFL: Very Very Faint Line (The line on an HPT, which can sometimes be unclear)
• ZIFT: Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer

What are other important TTC acronyms you need to know?

It’s not all medical terminology in the TTC community – it is after all a community.

So, you may come across the “dears” or the “darlings”.

These are simply sweet acronyms used to refer to relationships or relatives.

Dotted through every conversation, post, or comment you may just see:

• DH: Dear/Darling Husband

• DW: Dear/Darling Wife

• DP: Dear/Darling Partner

• DD: Dear/Darling Daughter

• DS: Dear/Darling Son

• DB: Dear/Darling Boyfriend

• DF: Dear/Darling Fiancé

• DSD: Dear/Darling Stepdaughter

• DSS: Dear/Darling Stepson

  Then there’s also:

• SO: Significant Other

• SIL: Sister-in-Law

• BIL: Brother-in-Law.

  And there you have it!

A solid TTC lingo sheet to have you talking the talk and connecting with other Peanut mamas sharing the journey in no time.

Spread that baby dust ✨