ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS
2WW
Two week wait (before testing, not always 2 weeks)

AF
Aunt Flo, your period.

BD
Baby Dance. Have intercourse for conception purposes.

BFN
Big Fat Negative (pregnancy test)

BFP
Big Fat Positive (pregnancy test)

CD
Cycle Day

CL
Coverline

CM
Cervical mucous, also known as cervical fluid. It is fluid produced by your cervix as you approach ovulation due to increased estrogen.

CP
Cervical Position

DH, DD, DS
Dear Husband, Dear Daughter, Dear Son

DOR
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
a condition of low fertility characterized by low numbers of remaining oocytes in the ovaries.

DPO
Days Past Ovulation

DTD
Doing the deed, same as baby dance.

EDD
Estimated Due Date

EPO
Evening Primrose Oil. Can be taken from CD1 up to ovulation to promote fertile CM. Don't take it after ovulation, though.

EWCM
Eggwhite cervical mucous. See Eggwhite cervical fluid below.

FSH
Follicle Stimulating Hormone

GnRH
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

HPT
Home pregnancy test. Measures levels of the hormone hcG which are produced in pregnancy.

HcG
Hormone detected by pregnancy tests. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin.

ICSI
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

IUI
Intra-uterine insemination

IVF
In-vitro fertilization

LAP
Laparoscopy

LH
Luteinizing Hormone

LMP
Last menstrual period. The first day of your last period.

LOL
Laughing out loud

LP
Luteal Phase

LPD
Luteal Phase Defect

M/C, MC
Miscarriage

NaPro
Natural Procreative Technology (NaProTECHNOLOGY or NaPro) is a new scientific, medical system of procreative health care. It can be used to help couples with infertility, recurrent miscarriage, irregular cycles, PMS or abnormal Menstrual bleeding. NaPro has been develloped by Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr. Thomas Hilgers in the USA and has been available in Ireland since 1998, when the first Irish Clinic opened in Galway. Since August 2004 NaPro has been available from the Galway Clinic, Doughiska, Co. Galway, where 3 doctors now offer treatment.

O, Ov
Ovulation

OHSS
Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is an exaggerated response to ovulation induction with FSH and HCG. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovarian_hy ... n_syndrome

OPK
Ovulation Prediction Kit. OPKs measure luteinizing hormone, the last hormone to peak before ovulation.

POAS
Pee on a stick

RE
Reproductive Endocrinologist- Fertility Specialist

SA
Semen analysis

TCOYF
Taking Charge of Your Fertility, book on fertility awareness by Toni Weschler.

TTC
Trying to conceive.


GLOSSARY OF TERMS
AnovulationNo ovulation.

Anovulatory pattern
Fertility chart that does not have an ovulation (biphasic) pattern.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
Your body temperature at rest as measured with a special Basal Body Temperature thermometer. A rise in BBT occurs after ovulation making BBT the only fertility sign that is useful for pinpointing the actual day of ovulation.

Biphasic Pattern
Chart pattern that shows ovulation by showing two levels of temperatures on a graph. Basal Body Temperature (BBT) rises after ovulation. The pre-ovulation temperatures are slightly lower than those after ovulation.

Cervical Fluid (CF, CM)
Also sometimes called cervical mucous, cervical fluid is produced by your cervix as you approach ovulation due to increased estrogen.

Chemical pregnancy
A chemical pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg does not implant into the uterine wall. If a pregnancy test is taken just at the right time it will be positive, however, when a repeat test is taken several days later it will be negative. The majority of women who have a chemical pregnancy never know they are pregnant before they miscarry and begin what they think is their normal menstrual cycle.

Clomid
Clomiphene citrate (CC, Clomid, Serophene) is often the first fertility drug that couples come in contact with. It is easily taken (orally rather than by injection) and it is the first line drug used for ovulation induction in patients with PCOS and other ovulatory disorders. It has been used for patients with luteal phase defect. It can also be used to assess ovarian reserve or, in other words, the likelihood that a woman's ovaries can still produce viable eggs. Clomid is not useful for women whose ovaries have reached the end of their working life.

Corpus Luteum
Literally meaning "yellow body" because of its color, the corpus luteum is what remains of the dominant ovarian follicle that released an egg at ovulation. The corpus luteum is responsible for producing progesterone after ovulation.

Coverline
A coverline is a visual tool used to differentiate your pre- and post-ovulation phases on your fertility chart. It is drawn horizontally across your chart once ovulation has been detected. The way it is calculated depends on the ovulation pattern of your chart.

Dominant Follicle
The ovarian follicle that will release an egg at ovulation. The dominant follicle is responsible for estrogen production before ovulation.

Eggwhite Cervical Fluid
This is the most fertile kind of cervical fluid. It is stretchy and usually clear and resembles raw eggwhite. Also called Eggwhite cervical mucous (EWCM).

Estrogen
One of the principal female sex hormones. Produced in the ovaries, estrogen dominates the first part of your menstrual cycle, before ovulation and stimulates follicular growth. It strengthens tissues and helps to build up the lining of the uterus and is responsible for many of your fertility signs, including cervical fluid and cervical position.

Fallback rise
A normal ovulation pattern when your temperature rises then drops slightly immediately after ovulation and then rises again.

Fertile phase
The period when you are most fertile (most likely to conceive) before ovulation.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone
The hormone produced by the pituitary gland that causes the growth of follicles in the ovary early in the menstrual cycle, before ovulation.

GIFT
GAMETE INTERFALLOPIAN TRANSFER (GIFT)

In this technique, sperm and eggs are placed directly into the woman's fallopian tubes to encourage fertilization to occur naturally. This procedure is done with the help of laparoscopy. In laparoscopy, a small tube with a viewing lens at one end is inserted into the abdomen through a small incision. The lens allows the physician to see inside the patient on a video monitor.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
The hormone GnRH pulses through your bloodstream from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland in spurts every 60-90 minutes from menstruation until ovulation. The GnRH signals the anterior pituitary gland to secrete FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and later LH (Luteinizing Hormone).

Hormones
Hormones are biochemical substances that are produced in one area of your body and carried in your bloodstream to send signals that trigger responses in another part of your body.

Implantation
When the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus.

Implantation spotting
Some women experience spotting when implantation occurs.

IUI (intrauterine insemination)
With an IUI, your partner provides a sperm sample at home or in the doctor's office on the same day of the insemination. Then, his sperm are "washed" -- that is, the sperm are separated from the semen and concentrated; the washing also cleanses the sperm of potentially hazardous chemicals that could harm the uterus. The resulting liquid is placed in a thin soft tube and injected high into your uterus. This positions the sperm much closer to the fallopian tubes, where it will have to be for one of them to fertilize an egg.

The procedure takes only a few minutes. You may experience mild cramping, but it's usually brief and you can resume your activities immediately afterward.

Laparoscopy
A procedure in which a viewing tube is inserted through the abdominal wall (usually via an incision in the belly button and bikini line) to examine a woman's reproductive organs.

LH Surge
A sudden and large increase in Luteinizing Hormone in response to increased levels of estrogen in the blood. The LH surge is detected by ovulation prediction kits. Ovulation follows within about 24 hours of an LH surge.

Luteal Phase
The second part of your menstrual cycle, after ovulation. The time between ovulation and mentruation. It is called luteal phase because the corpus luteum governs hormone production at this time.

Luteal Phase Defect
When the luteal phase (the time between ovulation and menstruation) is too short (less than 10 days) it may indicate that the corpus luteum is not functioning properly and may prevent implantation of a fertilized egg or may lead to early pregnancy loss.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
The hormone produced in the pituitary gland that triggers ovulation. Luteinizing hormone is the last hormone to peak before ovulation. LH is measured by ovulation prediction kits.

Mittelschmertz
see Ovulation pain

Monkey Pants
Special underwear worn during the 2 week wait, for luck.
See also Pirate Pants

Oestrogen
Same as Estrogen - Estrogen is the American spelling.

Ovary
Produces eggs (ova) and female hormones.

Ovulation
When the ovary releases an egg.

Ovulation Pain
Slight cramping or twinges in your abdomen before, during or slightly after ovulation. This is a secondary fertility sign and because it can happen before, during, or after ovulation and can be misidentified, it is not reliable for pipointing ovulation. Also called mittelschmertz, or middle pain.

Ovulation Pattern
A pattern on your fertility chart that shows that you have ovulated.

Pirate Pants
Special underwear worn during the 2 week wait, for luck.
See also Monkey Pants

Pregnyl
Chorionic Gonadotropin. Pregnyl is a hormone used for treating fertility problems. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) stimulates ovulation (release of an egg) in women

Preseedl
A lubricant very similar to natural cervical fluid, which provides a good environment in which sperm can thrive. Available online.

Primary fertility signs
These are the fertility signs that you need to include on your chart to get an accurate assessment of your fertility status and to make the most of fertility charting. Your primary fertility signs are your Basal Body Temperature (BBT) and your cervical fluid.

Progesterone
Progesterone is one of the major female sex hormones. Progesterone dominates the luteal phase (the time between ovulation and menstruation) of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone is released from the corpus luteum after ovulation, and causes your basal body temperature to increase slightly. Progesterone helps build the lining of the uterus so that a fertilized egg can implant.

Saliva microscope
A saliva microscope is a device that measures the level of the hormone estrogen. When there is increased estrogen in your bloodstream (indicating increased fertility) you are able to see ferning patterns when your saliva is observed through a microscope.

Secondary fertility signs
Fertility signs other than cervical fluid or basal body temperature (BBT) that are useful for cross-checking your primary fertility signs and giving added insight into your cycles

Slow Rise
Normal ovulation pattern where the temperature rises slowly after ovulation.

Spinnbarkeit
Stretchability, webbiness (of cervical fluid). See eggwhite cervical fluid

Triphasic pattern
A triphasic chart shows three levels of temperatures: pre-ovulation, post-ovulation, and then a second rise after ovulation. Triphasic charts are occasionally an indication of pregnancy when the second rise occurs when you would expect implantation. Triphasic charts often do not end up showing pregnancy. You can be pregnant without a triphasic pattern and you can have a triphasic pattern without being pregnant.

ZYGOTE INTRAFALLOPIAN TRANSFER (ZIFT)
If infertility is caused by a low sperm count, zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) can be tried. This technique combines GIFT and IVF. This procedure is also called a "tubal embryo transfer."

In this technique, in-vitro fertilization is first performed, so that the actual fertilization takes place and is confirmed in the laboratory. Two days later, instead of placing the embryo in the uterus, the physician performs laparoscopy to place the embryos in the fallopian tube, much like the GIFT procedure.

A woman must have at least one functioning fallopian tube in order to participate in ZIFT.

Great post. Good work Milis!
Hopefully admin will make it a sticky.

lol it was a sticky (and not my work!!!) but it got sucked into cyberspace!

Damn that place
Credit it to you for bringing it back though!!

Good God Milis!!! That'll save a lot of head scratchin' so thank you

I'm just going to add this onto this thread, seems appropriate, and I'm sure Elegance won't mind

Elegance wrote:Hi everyone - I find myself getting confused about all things relating to CM and EWCM and timings of which, so I've done some googling - and put together the below .... (thanks to a number of websites!)
Anyhow, I thought I'd pay it forward and share with you. I'm at that stage at the mo - checking CM! The things we do!
Lots of babydust to all my TTC friends.


CHARTING CERVICAL MUCUS
Cervical mucus changes are monitored for determining when ovulation occurs through the cervical mucus monitoring test. As your cycle progresses, your cervical mucus increases in volume and changes texture.

Before collecting a sample, be sure to wash your hands first in order to prevent the transmission of germs.

The most accurate way to collect your cervical mucus is to insert your finger into your vagina and circle your finger around your cervix or as close as you can to the cervix. This will allow you to actually collect the cervical mucus instead of just it's wetness.
Monitoring the changes in cervical mucus is the only method that will not require looking back to the past few cycles for analysis, and also provide reliable results that you can trust when trying to conceive. You can do this yourself by getting a sample of your cervical secretions and stretch it between 2 of your fingers (the thumb and index finger) to test for the consistency. Examining the changes in your cervical mucus can help you pinpoint your time of ovulation and increase your chances of pregnancy.

Before Ovulation (low chance of pregnancy):The first few days following menstruation, there will be little or no discharge present. You will feel dryness around your vulva. During this time, chances of getting pregnant are low.

Approaching Ovulation (chance of pregnancy):The first discharge that does appear should be moist or sticky and should be white or cream in color. In the finger test, the mucus should break easily. You will only be able to pull your fingers about 1 cm apart before it breaks. During this transition time, first the mucus will become cloudy and slightly stretchy during the finger test (this means that it will still break before the fingers are stretched all the way). As time progresses, the mucus will become greater in volume.

Right around ovulation (high chance of pregnancy):At this stage, mucus resembles egg whites. It is the thinnest, clearest and most abundant at this point in the cycle. Finger testing will allow the mucus to stretch quite a ways (several centimeters) before it breaks (if it breaks at all). ) The amount of this thin mucus will steadily increase until you experience your 'mucus peak'. This is the last day of this period where the chance of conception is high. It is closely tied to ovulation. During this phase, the sperm's survival rate is higher. It can survive in cervical mucus for up to 72 hours, a significantly longer time than during the rest of the cycle.

After Ovulation (low chance of pregnancy):
After ovulation, there is a marked change in mucus appearance. It returns to the sticky stage (does not stretch during finger test) and there is again a feeling of dryness around the vulva.

One caution for this test is that sperm can be confused with the mucus secretions and you could make wrong assumptions. Also, vaginal infections, medication, and birth control can alter conditions and should be taken into consideration when examining any vaginal secretions.

Simply put:

Dry
Probably Not Fertile

Sticky
Probably Not Fertile

Creamy
Possibly Fertile

Watery
Fertile

Egg white
Most Fertile

Hope that helps everyone

OV TEST STRIPS

1) You should NOT test between the hours of 5am and 8am--it has been shown that the tests are not accurate with morning pee. You should test with NON morning pee.

Exception to this rule is for CBFM users. As this measures estrogen as well as LH, it is perfectly fine to use morning pee.

2) You should test twice per day, at the same times every day. The best times are between 11-3 and 5-10...making 4 hours before having pee'd before testing. Like noon and 10pm.

--Testing twice per day is important because if you only test at say noon---and you don't get a positive. But test the next day at noon and it's positive that means the LH had been in your blood stream for at least six hours, and you're not completely sure. If you test again at 10pm and the LH surge is gone you will never know if the LH surge was six hours before, or right at noon, etc. Testing twice helps ensure when the LH surge happens.

3) The line MUST be darker, or as dark as the control line.

4) A positive test does not mean you are ovulating! This is the most important. Say you test for four days and on the fourth day you get a positive---don't have DH rush home and BD...you're only getting the LH surge...NOT OVULATION. Ovulation is 12-48 hours AFTER the positive LH. Now, this is why #2 is important.

5) You should not just use OPK'S. Temp and CM and cervical checks are all great ways.

6) You should try not to pee for a few hours (4 is suggested on the packs) before taking an OPK. Otherwise you may not have enough LH concentrated to get a +, even if you are having a surge.

7) OPK's should not be used in the first 2 cycles after coming off the pill. You will have hormone surges in these cycles which do not relate to ovulation as a result of coming of the pill.

8) If you test once per day and you do not get a positive on your OPK, this does not mean you are not ovulating. It is entirely possible to miss an LH surge within that 24 period between testing. So test twice per day to ensure you are not missing the LH surge.

Just going to add this in here too, useful info for anyone who's driving themselves mad with symptoms on the 2ww.

Question: Why Do I Sometimes Feel Pregnant When I Am Not Pregnant?


Answer:

Feeling pregnant? Maybe you have been trying to get pregnant for a while and have months when you think you’re pregnant, only to find out that, nope, you’re not. If yes, you are not alone.

The experience of feeling pregnant when trying to get pregnant isn’t uncommon. Spend any time on fertility message boards, and you’re bound to hear members refer to "imaginary pregnancy symptoms." You probably have experienced imaginary pregnancy symptoms yourself.

Imaginary Pregnancy Symptoms
Imaginary Pregnancy Symptoms (IPS) are exactly what they sound like — symptoms a woman experiences that make her think that she may be pregnant. Don’t expect to hear your doctor use the term IPS; it’s not a technical term. The phrase was invented on fertility message boards around the world as a loving way to refer to those “symptoms” that make us feel pregnant.

The time between ovulation and your expected period is when you’re most likely to be anxious about whether or not this month will be the month. It’s natural to assume that you may imagine some early pregnancy symptoms, such as tender breasts, fatigue, bloating, emotional sensitivity, light cramping and even food cravings. Much like an oasis in the desert, you want to be pregnant so much that you’re sure you can feel it.

Feeling Pregnant — Not Completely Imaginary?

What may surprise you is that these feelings aren’t all in your head. They’re real reactions to the hormones in your body that are preparing for possible pregnancy. Our bodies are optimistic when it comes to pregnancy potential, and as soon as ovulation occurs, the body prepares itself for new life, even if conception did not take place.

One of the hormones responsible for many imaginary pregnancy symptoms is progesterone, which increases just after ovulation and drops when your period comes (if you’re not pregnant). Also, if you’re taking fertility drugs, their side effects can sometimes be mistaken for early pregnancy symptoms.

It’d be nice if we could just feel whether we’re pregnant or not, and it sure would cut down the anxiety of the 2-week wait. The symptoms of early pregnancy, though, are practically indistinguishable from normal premenstrual symptoms.

The Bottom Line on Feeling Pregnant

While your "pregnant feelings" aren't 100% imagined, you can feel worse the more you focus on the feelings. It helps to remind yourself that whether you feel pregnant or not, it doesn’t mean anything. Some women are sure they are pregnant, complete with throwing up in the morning, and then find out they’re not. Some women feel absolutely nothing and find out they’re pregnant after all.

The only way to know if you’re pregnant is to wait out the 2-week wait and take a pregnancy test when your period is overdue.

(Note: When I talk about imaginary pregnancy symptoms, I’m not referring to the very serious psychological condition pseudocyesis, a psychological condition where a woman really believes that she is pregnant when she isn’t. This is completely different than the normal experience of feeling that you may be pregnant, even if you aren’t, during the 2-week wait.)

Thanks for all this Milis, great additions

....

.........

just checking

test

Milis wrote:ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS
2WW
Two week wait (before testing, not always 2 weeks)

AF
Aunt Flo, your period.

BD
Baby Dance. Have intercourse for conception purposes.

BFN
Big Fat Negative (pregnancy test)

BFP
Big Fat Positive (pregnancy test)

CD
Cycle Day

CL
Coverline

CM
Cervical mucous, also known as cervical fluid. It is fluid produced by your cervix as you approach ovulation due to increased estrogen.

CP
Cervical Position

DH, DD, DS
Dear Husband, Dear Daughter, Dear Son

DOR
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
a condition of low fertility characterized by low numbers of remaining oocytes in the ovaries.

DPO
Days Past Ovulation

DTD
Doing the deed, same as baby dance.

EDD
Estimated Due Date

EPO
Evening Primrose Oil. Can be taken from CD1 up to ovulation to promote fertile CM. Don't take it after ovulation, though.

EWCM
Eggwhite cervical mucous. See Eggwhite cervical fluid below.

FSH
Follicle Stimulating Hormone

GnRH
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

HPT
Home pregnancy test. Measures levels of the hormone hcG which are produced in pregnancy.

HcG
Hormone detected by pregnancy tests. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin.

ICSI
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

IUI
Intra-uterine insemination

IVF
In-vitro fertilization

LAP
Laparoscopy

LH
Luteinizing Hormone

LMP
Last menstrual period. The first day of your last period.

LOL
Laughing out loud

LP
Luteal Phase

LPD
Luteal Phase Defect

M/C, MC
Miscarriage

NaPro
Natural Procreative Technology (NaProTECHNOLOGY or NaPro) is a new scientific, medical system of procreative health care. It can be used to help couples with infertility, recurrent miscarriage, irregular cycles, PMS or abnormal Menstrual bleeding. NaPro has been develloped by Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr. Thomas Hilgers in the USA and has been available in Ireland since 1998, when the first Irish Clinic opened in Galway. Since August 2004 NaPro has been available from the Galway Clinic, Doughiska, Co. Galway, where 3 doctors now offer treatment.

O, Ov
Ovulation

OHSS
Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is an exaggerated response to ovulation induction with FSH and HCG. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovarian_hy ... n_syndrome

OPK
Ovulation Prediction Kit. OPKs measure luteinizing hormone, the last hormone to peak before ovulation.

POAS
Pee on a stick

RE
Reproductive Endocrinologist- Fertility Specialist

SA
Semen analysis

TCOYF
Taking Charge of Your Fertility, book on fertility awareness by Toni Weschler.

TTC
Trying to conceive.


GLOSSARY OF TERMS
AnovulationNo ovulation.

Anovulatory pattern
Fertility chart that does not have an ovulation (biphasic) pattern.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
Your body temperature at rest as measured with a special Basal Body Temperature thermometer. A rise in BBT occurs after ovulation making BBT the only fertility sign that is useful for pinpointing the actual day of ovulation.

Biphasic Pattern
Chart pattern that shows ovulation by showing two levels of temperatures on a graph. Basal Body Temperature (BBT) rises after ovulation. The pre-ovulation temperatures are slightly lower than those after ovulation.

Cervical Fluid (CF, CM)
Also sometimes called cervical mucous, cervical fluid is produced by your cervix as you approach ovulation due to increased estrogen.

Chemical pregnancy
A chemical pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg does not implant into the uterine wall. If a pregnancy test is taken just at the right time it will be positive, however, when a repeat test is taken several days later it will be negative. The majority of women who have a chemical pregnancy never know they are pregnant before they miscarry and begin what they think is their normal menstrual cycle.

Clomid
Clomiphene citrate (CC, Clomid, Serophene) is often the first fertility drug that couples come in contact with. It is easily taken (orally rather than by injection) and it is the first line drug used for ovulation induction in patients with PCOS and other ovulatory disorders. It has been used for patients with luteal phase defect. It can also be used to assess ovarian reserve or, in other words, the likelihood that a woman's ovaries can still produce viable eggs. Clomid is not useful for women whose ovaries have reached the end of their working life.

Corpus Luteum
Literally meaning "yellow body" because of its color, the corpus luteum is what remains of the dominant ovarian follicle that released an egg at ovulation. The corpus luteum is responsible for producing progesterone after ovulation.

Coverline
A coverline is a visual tool used to differentiate your pre- and post-ovulation phases on your fertility chart. It is drawn horizontally across your chart once ovulation has been detected. The way it is calculated depends on the ovulation pattern of your chart.

Dominant Follicle
The ovarian follicle that will release an egg at ovulation. The dominant follicle is responsible for estrogen production before ovulation.

Eggwhite Cervical Fluid
This is the most fertile kind of cervical fluid. It is stretchy and usually clear and resembles raw eggwhite. Also called Eggwhite cervical mucous (EWCM).

Estrogen
One of the principal female sex hormones. Produced in the ovaries, estrogen dominates the first part of your menstrual cycle, before ovulation and stimulates follicular growth. It strengthens tissues and helps to build up the lining of the uterus and is responsible for many of your fertility signs, including cervical fluid and cervical position.

Fallback rise
A normal ovulation pattern when your temperature rises then drops slightly immediately after ovulation and then rises again.

Fertile phase
The period when you are most fertile (most likely to conceive) before ovulation.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone
The hormone produced by the pituitary gland that causes the growth of follicles in the ovary early in the menstrual cycle, before ovulation.

GIFT
GAMETE INTERFALLOPIAN TRANSFER (GIFT)

In this technique, sperm and eggs are placed directly into the woman's fallopian tubes to encourage fertilization to occur naturally. This procedure is done with the help of laparoscopy. In laparoscopy, a small tube with a viewing lens at one end is inserted into the abdomen through a small incision. The lens allows the physician to see inside the patient on a video monitor.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
The hormone GnRH pulses through your bloodstream from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland in spurts every 60-90 minutes from menstruation until ovulation. The GnRH signals the anterior pituitary gland to secrete FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and later LH (Luteinizing Hormone).

Hormones
Hormones are biochemical substances that are produced in one area of your body and carried in your bloodstream to send signals that trigger responses in another part of your body.

Implantation
When the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus.

Implantation spotting
Some women experience spotting when implantation occurs.

IUI (intrauterine insemination)
With an IUI, your partner provides a sperm sample at home or in the doctor's office on the same day of the insemination. Then, his sperm are "washed" -- that is, the sperm are separated from the semen and concentrated; the washing also cleanses the sperm of potentially hazardous chemicals that could harm the uterus. The resulting liquid is placed in a thin soft tube and injected high into your uterus. This positions the sperm much closer to the fallopian tubes, where it will have to be for one of them to fertilize an egg.

The procedure takes only a few minutes. You may experience mild cramping, but it's usually brief and you can resume your activities immediately afterward.

Laparoscopy
A procedure in which a viewing tube is inserted through the abdominal wall (usually via an incision in the belly button and bikini line) to examine a woman's reproductive organs.

LH Surge
A sudden and large increase in Luteinizing Hormone in response to increased levels of estrogen in the blood. The LH surge is detected by ovulation prediction kits. Ovulation follows within about 24 hours of an LH surge.

Luteal Phase
The second part of your menstrual cycle, after ovulation. The time between ovulation and mentruation. It is called luteal phase because the corpus luteum governs hormone production at this time.

Luteal Phase Defect
When the luteal phase (the time between ovulation and menstruation) is too short (less than 10 days) it may indicate that the corpus luteum is not functioning properly and may prevent implantation of a fertilized egg or may lead to early pregnancy loss.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
The hormone produced in the pituitary gland that triggers ovulation. Luteinizing hormone is the last hormone to peak before ovulation. LH is measured by ovulation prediction kits.

Mittelschmertz
see Ovulation pain

Monkey Pants
Special underwear worn during the 2 week wait, for luck.
See also Pirate Pants

Oestrogen
Same as Estrogen - Estrogen is the American spelling.

Ovary
Produces eggs (ova) and female hormones.

Ovulation
When the ovary releases an egg.

Ovulation Pain
Slight cramping or twinges in your abdomen before, during or slightly after ovulation. This is a secondary fertility sign and because it can happen before, during, or after ovulation and can be misidentified, it is not reliable for pipointing ovulation. Also called mittelschmertz, or middle pain.

Ovulation Pattern
A pattern on your fertility chart that shows that you have ovulated.

Pirate Pants
Special underwear worn during the 2 week wait, for luck.
See also Monkey Pants

Pregnyl
Chorionic Gonadotropin. Pregnyl is a hormone used for treating fertility problems. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) stimulates ovulation (release of an egg) in women

Preseedl
A lubricant very similar to natural cervical fluid, which provides a good environment in which sperm can thrive. Available online.

Primary fertility signs
These are the fertility signs that you need to include on your chart to get an accurate assessment of your fertility status and to make the most of fertility charting. Your primary fertility signs are your Basal Body Temperature (BBT) and your cervical fluid.

Progesterone
Progesterone is one of the major female sex hormones. Progesterone dominates the luteal phase (the time between ovulation and menstruation) of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone is released from the corpus luteum after ovulation, and causes your basal body temperature to increase slightly. Progesterone helps build the lining of the uterus so that a fertilized egg can implant.

Saliva microscope
A saliva microscope is a device that measures the level of the hormone estrogen. When there is increased estrogen in your bloodstream (indicating increased fertility) you are able to see ferning patterns when your saliva is observed through a microscope.

Secondary fertility signs
Fertility signs other than cervical fluid or basal body temperature (BBT) that are useful for cross-checking your primary fertility signs and giving added insight into your cycles

Slow Rise
Normal ovulation pattern where the temperature rises slowly after ovulation.

Spinnbarkeit
Stretchability, webbiness (of cervical fluid). See eggwhite cervical fluid

Triphasic pattern
A triphasic chart shows three levels of temperatures: pre-ovulation, post-ovulation, and then a second rise after ovulation. Triphasic charts are occasionally an indication of pregnancy when the second rise occurs when you would expect implantation. Triphasic charts often do not end up showing pregnancy. You can be pregnant without a triphasic pattern and you can have a triphasic pattern without being pregnant.

ZYGOTE INTRAFALLOPIAN TRANSFER (ZIFT)
If infertility is caused by a low sperm count, zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) can be tried. This technique combines GIFT and IVF. This procedure is also called a "tubal embryo transfer."

In this technique, in-vitro fertilization is first performed, so that the actual fertilization takes place and is confirmed in the laboratory. Two days later, instead of placing the embryo in the uterus, the physician performs laparoscopy to place the embryos in the fallopian tube, much like the GIFT procedure.

A woman must have at least one functioning fallopian tube in order to participate in ZIFT.

A MILLION TIMES thank you!!!! Oh God I had myself driven demented trying to decipher codes!!

It's probably coming come to me in a blinding flash - I've seen it in numerous threads.....but what is ETA? As soon as I hit Submit, I know I'll cop on to it, but it's been driving me mad for ages!

Estimated Time of Arrival.

That usually works for me too, ask the question, and into my head pops the answer