ABCs of Surrogacy Lingo | Learn The Language

When entering the world of surrogacy, you will find that you are entering a world where people speak a whole new language!  “Surrogacy lingo” is commonly spoken across all the surrogacy forums and groups online so here’s a cheat sheet with some of the top acronyms to help you know what is being said!

IF– Intended Father

IM– Intended Mother

IP– Intended Parent (some get specific to say IF or IM, but just as easy to say IPs)

FIF– Former Intended Father

FIM– Former Intended Mother

FIP– Former Intended Parents

GC- Gestational Carrier (can also be GS for Gestational Surrogate)

RE- Reproductive Endocrinologist

ET- Embryo Transfer

DE- Donor Egg

ED- Egg Donor

BCP- Birth Control Pills

B/W– Bloodwork

DET- Double embryo transfer (transferring 2 embryos at once)

SET- Single embryo transfer (transferring 1 embryo at transfer)

PIO – Progesterone in oil (typically in injection form for most clinics and protocols)

P4- Progesterone (commonly referred to as this when mentioned results of progesterone levels during monitoring appointments)

E2- Estradiol/Estrogen (commonly referred to as this when mentioned results of estrogen levels during monitoring appointments)

HPT– Home Pregnancy Test

FRER- First Response Early Result (one of the most sensitive tests and often mentioned as a top choice to use if you’re testing early)

POAS– Pee on a stick (use a home pregnancy test)

BFP– “Big Fat Positive” aka positive pregnancy test (BFN if negative, but we don’t want to be negative here and highlight that acronym!)

Beta– hCG blood test for pregnancy

EDD- Estimated due date

U/S- Ultrasound

SCH- Subchorionic hemorrhage (common in IVF and part of why we say don’t jump to conclusions or try to worry about bleeding)

CD- Cycle Day (CD1 is cycle day 1 which is the first full day of your period, which you will share with your coordinator each month prior to transfer)

2WW– Two Week Wait (almost never an actual 2 week wait as many beta tests are done by then)

9dp5dt (you can use a variety of numbers)- You can change the wording, but this means 9 “days past” 5 “day transfer” assuming the embryos were frozen on day 5.

PGD- Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

PGS– Preimplantation Genetic Screening

Pretty soon you will find yourself saying something like:

“Got my E2 and P4 results from my b/w I had and all looks great! I already took an HPT since I love to POAS and I got a BFP today at 7dp5dt and got to share my BFP with both IM and IF and they are SO happy! Can’t wait for beta which is at 13dp5dt!”

Easy right? Welcome to the world of surrogacy!