What does TTC mean in medical terms?
TTC stands for ‘trying to conceive’. This is a popular acronym in fertility support groups on the web and on message boards. For those people seeking support on fertility forums, trying to conceive is so much more than simply having unprotected sex. It can be a difficult journey, both physically and emotionally. It will involve lots of research, medical visits and changes of plan.
What does TTCAL mean?
TTCAL means ‘trying to conceive after a loss’. When you’re ready, you may question when the right time to try again is — and that time is different for everyone. Sometimes the doctor will guide you, depending on what medical procedures (if any) you’ve had. And there are other considerations, including age and lifestyle factors. The doctor might suggest waiting one or two cycles.
Some women find that their period doesn’t return for a while after a loss. But it’s not just a case of medical timing; it’s also emotional. Being able to simply write TTCAL on a forum will instantly communicate the complexity of your situation; and it can be of great comfort to talk to others outside friends and family who are going through the same thing or have done it in the past.
What does 2WW/TWW mean?
2WW or TWW means ‘two-week wait’. These acronyms are used on fertility forums to talk about the two-week period of time that a couple has to wait in order to take an accurate pregnancy test. These 14-16 days are from the time you ovulate until the time you miss your period. The medical term for this period is the ‘luteal phase’.
For those hoping to become pregnant, particularly after a long time trying, this two-week wait can feel like an eternity and it can be really stressful. It often helps to talk to others who are experiencing the same wait and so the acronyms can be used on the forums to gain moral support.
What does BBT mean?
BBT means ‘basal body temperature’. Basal body temperature is simply your resting body temperature. There is a change in BBT after ovulation happens in the menstrual cycle due to an increase in the hormone progesterone. So the references to BBT thermometers, BBT tracking and the BBT method are just ways of finding out your BBT to chart the temp reading. Then you can discover when your fertile window is, which is when you should be having sex each month in order to conceive.
What does DPO mean?
DPO means ‘days past ovulation’. This fertility acronym is a way of communicating to the fertility forum community how many days past ovulation you are, so they’ll understand your situation. For example, being ‘14 DPO’ will let them know you’re at a potentially anxious/exciting point: you’re either nearing the start of your period, or you’ll find out that you’re pregnant.
At 14 DPO, women will likely be talking about what physical symptoms they’re experiencing (as well as emotional) and trying to understand if hormonal changes are premenstrual or early pregnancy indicators. Remember that there are many reasons why a period can be late, although it’s hard not to jump to conclusions before taking a pregnancy test.
What does EDD mean?
EDD means ‘estimated due date’. The EDD gives an approximate delivery date, although babies are rarely delivered on this date (in the UK, only 4% of babies are delivered on the EDD). Usually, you’ll start labour in the two weeks before or after your due date.
In some countries, they don’t provide one EDD, rather an estimated window of weeks. Even when defining the EDD, different countries have different rules for pinpointing that EDD date, so the same pregnancy would vary in EDD from country to country! On pregnancy forums, women can worry if they have gone past their EDD — but the best thing to do is consult your doctor.
What does DTD mean?
DTD means ‘do the deed’! This sounds a little too personal for an internet forum, but actually, having sex when trying to conceive is a matter up for discussion on fertility forums due to the scientific timing of it. The NHS suggests that it’s optimal to have sex without contraception every two or three days. But a key time to DTD is during your fertile window – to maximise your chances (around 12 to 16 days before your period).
However, don’t stop after ovulation — it’s possible to conceive at any time during the menstrual cycle, even during a period. This is because the egg may be released early and sperm can survive for a while in the female reproductive tract. Having regular sex will also help to clear sperm from the testicles and prevent the natural build-up of DNA damage.
