Here are the TTC acronyms you should know about

AF:

Aunt Flow. Your period.

Thanks for the invite, but my Aunt Flow’s in town. I’m gonna go home and treat her to some wine and reruns.

BBT:

Basal Body Temperature. BBT may spike right before ovulation, so many women track it to help them pinpoint their ovulation.

The very first thing I did this morning was grab my thermometer and take my BBT.

BCP:

Birth Control Pills.

In almost no time after I stopped taking BCP, I was pregnant.

BD:

Baby Dance. Sexual intercourse, usually done on the most fertile days of your cycle. (Can also mean baby dust, which is a phrase you use to wish someone good luck.)

My ovulation test is positive, which makes me want to dance – the BD, that is!

BFN/BFP:

Big Fat Negative/Big Fat Positive (on your pregnancy test).

Every time I buy a pregnancy test, I think about how it could be the one to show the BFP.

BOB:

Baby on the Brain!

I’m having a hard time shopping with BOB. All I can think about is tiny socks and pacifiers, which makes it impossible to keep track of my grocery list.

CD:

Cycle Day. A specific day in your menstrual cycle (or fertility treatment cycle). To track it, start by counting from the first day of your last menstrual cycle.

It varies each cycle, but normally I ovulate on CD 13, or 13 days after the first day of my period.

CM or CF:

Cervical Mucus or Cervical Fluid. Changes in cervical fluid indicate that a woman is at different stages of her cycle.

At the most fertile point of each cycle, my CM is clear and super stretchy.

CP:

Chemical pregnancy. A very early miscarriage.

My doctor recommended that I put off trying again until one cycle after my last CP.

DD:

Darling daughter. A daughter you already have.

DH, DD, and I go on vacation next week.

DH:

Dear husband.

I’m 42 and DH is 43.

DPO:

Days Past Ovulation, or Cycle Date Post Ovulation.

By 7DPO of the TWW, I’m already wondering if every little cramp is a sign of pregnancy.

DS:

Darling son.

It’s a challenge to care for DD and DS while also TTC.

ENDO:

Endometriosis. A chronic disease in which tissue that is supposed to grow in the uterus grows outside of it. Millions of women experience this condition and it can affect fertility.

After getting diagnosed with ENDO, I was able to find a huge and supportive online community of other women who had the same condition.

EWCM:

Egg White Cervical Mucus. When your cervical mucus looks like egg whites, it may mean that you’re at your most fertile point.

Nothing is as exciting as seeing EWCM when TTC!

FMU:

First Morning Urine. Most pregnancy tests require that women take them the very first time they pee in the morning. In the morning, urine typically has the highest concentration of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, or hCG, an early pregnancy hormone.

I tested with FMU and got a faint BFP.

FP:

Follicular Phase. The phase of the menstrual cycle when follicles mature in the ovary. This phase begins on day 1 of your period, and ends with ovulation.

I’m so excited to try and get pregnant, I just want my FP to be over!

hCG:

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. A hormone produced during early pregnancy that helps the baby grow.

I had a positive test, which means there was enough hCG in my urine to detect a pregnancy.

HPT:

Home Pregnancy Test. A pregnancy test that you can take at home. This morning my HPT showed a BFP – but I’m going to my doctor’s to take a blood test to confirm.

IUI:

Intrauterine Insemination. A specific kind of fertility treatment where sperm is placed directly into a woman’s uterus during ovulation.

After 2 years of TTC, we’ve decided to try IUI.

IVF:

In Vitro Fertilization. A procedure in which an egg is fertilized in a lab and then implanted.

We went through several rounds of IVF before getting a BFP.

LMP:

Last Menstrual Period. The first day of your last period.

I started my LMP on June 6th.

LPD:

Luteal Phase Defect. If the corpus luteum didn’t form properly, a luteal phase defect may occur, causing a short luteal phase. This can make it hard for a woman to get pregnant.

I’ve been really accurate with my charting, because I suspect I might have LPD and I want to have a lot of information to show my provider.

LSC:

Low Sperm Count. Commonly the cause of male infertility.

A semen analysis showed that my partner has an LSC.

M/C:

Miscarriage.

I got my first BFP a year ago, which ended in a really upsetting MC.

MF:

Male Factor Infertility.

To help with the MF issues, we found an infertility counselor who was covered by our insurance.

NTNP:

Not trying for pregnancy, not preventing pregnancy.

I just stopped taking BCP, so I guess that we’re NTNP.

O or OV:

Ovulation.

I O’ed on CD15 and BD on days 13 and 15.

OPK or OPT:

Ovulation Predictor Kit or Ovulation Predictor Test. These tests tell you when your body has a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), which indicates the onset of ovulation.

I just got a positive OPK, which means BD as soon as possible!

PCO, PCOS, or PCOD:

Polycystic Ovaries, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Disease. A condition in which a woman’s levels of estrogen and progesterone are unbalanced. Women with PCOS develop cysts on their ovaries, and the condition can cause infertility.

My doctor thinks I have PCOS, so I’m waiting to hear back about my blood work.

POAS:

Pee On Stick. Taking a pregnancy test (peeing on a stick), usually at home.

I’m 7DPO and it’s so hard to wait to POAS!

RE:

Reproductive Endocrinologist. A type of fertility specialist.

I’m meeting with an RE tomorrow to go over my fertility test results.

SA:

Semen Analysis. This is a test that providers can use to determine the quality and quantity of a man’s sperm.

The results of his SA show he has low sperm count, low motility, and poor morphology.

SO:

 Significant other.

My SO and I have decided that next month we’ll start TTC.

TWW or 2WW: Two Week Wait. The time period between when you ovulate and can take a pregnancy test.

 just started my TWW and I need to find some ways to distract myself!

TTC:

Trying to Conceive.

I haven’t decided who I want to tell that we’re TTC.

U/S:

Ultrasound.

Our first U/S is scheduled for the end of the month.

If you’re here to track your postpartum health, tap here to read more about how to use Ovia for postpartum.

If you ever need to change your goal, just head to your profile and toggle to the one that’s the best fit for you. Here are some tips to help you get started as you familiarize yourself with your Ovia app.

Your Ovia guide

The parts of the Ovia app you don’t want to miss.

Receive personalized feedback and content

Entering your data into Ovia does more than just mark it on a calendar: it tells a story about your health. Ovia uses the data you log to improve your cycle projections, send you personalized feedback, and deliver relevant tips and content to your timeline. Logging your period, symptoms, mood, cervical fluid, sleep, activity, and more will help you learn about your health. Plus, if you’re trying to conceive or using Ovia to help avoid pregnancy, you’ll see fertile window projections.

To log some data, just click on the “+” icon at the top of your timeline to enter each day’s info. If you forget, you can always go back in your calendar to add data. You can even customize the tracking categories on your data log page by tapping the “Settings” icon.

Get to know your body with the timeline

Get to know Ovia by exploring your timeline every day! You’ll see a selection of articles, tips, fun facts, and information based on the data you log. Your timeline is completely personalized to you and based on your health profile, your data entry, and your current cycle stage, so make sure to take a look every day.

Explore hundreds of clinically-reviewed articles

In addition to the content delivered to your timeline every day, you can find hundreds of articles under your “more” menu. Browse through the relevant categories to learn something new. Ovia articles are written and reviewed by experts, and you can always find the sources referenced at the bottom of the article.

Ask questions and learn from others

Tap on the bubble icon in your bottom bar menu to open Community. This is a place for you to ask and answer questions anonymously with other Ovia members in a safe, supportive environment. To get the most relevant answers, target your questions to specific groups of people. For example, you could send your question about IVF only with other members who are around your age, in your state, and using assisted reproductive technology.

In the Community section, you’ll also see questions from MyQ, which is Ovia’s way of getting to know you a little better and updating your profile.

Navigate the app to discover even more!

Now that you’ve read most of your Ovia guide, take a look in the “more” menu to see all the other resources and tools available in your Ovia app (health charts, a Daily self-care checklist, and more). And if you haven’t already, make sure to take the health assessment to unlock new content and features.

There’s so much to do! Ready to get started? First thing’s first: let’s log some data.

But working from home is increasingly a reality for a lot of people. Whether you work from home all the time, part-time, or have the option to do so occasionally, you want to make sure that you have the best day’s work in your home office – or from your couch – that you can.

How to work from home…the right way

At best, working from home can be a dream – no commute, no need to wear dress pants, and a bit more flexibility in your work day. At worst, it can mean some unique work-life stress – maybe you have an important deadline while home with a sick baby, or you find it hard to stay motivated, or your work hours are bleeding into your non-work hours. Read on for tips on how to have not just a productive day working from home, but a happy one too.

Structure your day in a way that works for you, but keep a regular schedule

For a lot of folks who work from home, one of the benefits is that if something comes up – an accelerated deadline or a plumber who needs to visit – being able to work around those needs can be immensely convenient. But you’ll probably find that your workdays are most productive if these sort of surprises remain an exception and not the norm.

And when you’re not walking out an office door at clock-out time, it can be plenty easy to send one more email or make one more phone call. Sometimes, this sort of flexibility and convenience can be valuable. And, sure, some people do need to be available after hours, but… do you really? If not, start and end your work day at set times – then really log off, hang up, and “clock-out”  when your work day is over. If you keep a regular schedule in this way, it can help you stay focused on completing work tasks during work hours and not let “work” hours bleed over into “non-work” hours in a way that can make you feel like you don’t ever really stop working.

Let transitions help you out

Something that can help you keep regular hours? Have clear transitions to start and end your day. If working from home means actually working from your home – versus a coffee shop or a library or a shared work space – you may also want to do something that makes for a clear physical way to start and end your day. Maybe when you start your work day you move your laptop to your desk and sit down with a fresh cup of coffee and you when you end your work day you take a short walk outside.

Work when you’re most productive

Do you love tackling your hardest tasks first thing in the morning or do your best work after noon? You know yourself best, so plan accordingly. The flip side of this? You should also plan to do the sort of work that’s less challenging for you during the times when you feel like you’re not working at peak performance. So that might mean you tackle a bunch of quick and easy emails at the end of day when you’re close to quitting time and your focus doesn’t feel like it’s your best. Know thyself, and plan accordingly.

Dress for success

What do you need to wear to feel your best when working from home? For some people that’s leggings, sweats, and lounge wear – comfort reigns supreme. For others, it might mean something a little more formal. And for many people who make a habit of videoconferencing, often the look of choice is business on the top – something appropriate for colleagues to see you in – and casual on the bottom – something comfy that you wouldn’t necessarily wear out of the house. Whatever makes you feel your best – comfortable, yes, but also ready to be productive – should guide you. And we don’t recommend that you just roll out of bed and jump right into work, even if you might be inclined to do so. Dressing for the work day can help you trick yourself into knowing it’s time for work, even if you’ll be doing so from the comfort of your couch. Also helpful with this transition? A shower, brushing your teeth, washing your face, doing your hair – all of these actions also clue you into knowing that it’s time to get down to business.

Know your weak spots and plan accordingly

If you’re a strong-willed soul who can power through their work (from home) day without paying heed to any number of distractions, good for you. For the rest of us, it’s helpful to know our individual weak spots and then plan around them. If when you work from home you find that you tend to get sucked down social media rabbit holes, or crawl into bed with your laptop but then start to feel sleepy, or save your hardest tasks until the end of the day but then aren’t motivated to actually tackle them then, well, you may want to make some alternate arrangements. So maybe you use website- or app-blocking tools during work hours, only work at a desk, or tackle your hardest task first – whatever will set you up for success.

Look ahead and look back – plan your tasks ahead of time and acknowledge your wins

One super simple thing that really makes for a productive day? Knowing what you plan to work on! Whether you use a simple handwritten to-do list or a fancy app, plan what’ll you work on ahead of time so you know how to spend your day. Something else that’s super encouraging? Ending the day by not just checking those items off your to-do list, but also really pausing to take stock of what you’re accomplished. You might even want to make a short list end of day or end of week to note a few things you’ve accomplished and are particularly proud of. Celebrating your wins – especially when there are no colleagues around to share a celebratory high-five with – can help you stay motivated to keep doing great work.

Take a break and be sure to step away from your screens

Without the usual distractions that might break up your day if working with colleagues – visiting a coworker’s desk to ask a question, getting coffee with team member, a meeting – it can be plenty easy to just keep your head down and barrel along, and before you know it the day is over and you’ve been sitting at your desk for most of it. So be sure to take regular breaks for all the usual stuff, like meals, the bathroom, another cup of coffee – or to do things that are a bit easier to do at home – like taking a minute wash your breakfast dishes or water plants or just stare out the window and watch the clouds. Some people also find it helpful to build break time right into their day, like listening to a podcast or album while working, and at the end getting up to stretch. Or putting on a load of laundry after answering a batch of emails. Or taking a midday break to prepare nice lunch, or take the dog for a walk, or do fifteen minutes of dinner prep. You know what sort of activities will feel like a much-needed break and what will feel like you’re wandering into procrastinating with chores territory, so do what’s best for you. And if you do prefer to power through, at the very least give your eyes a break from your computer screen every so often by following the 20-20-20 rule, in which you look away from your screen every 20 minutes and look at something about 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. What’s even better – and great to do in the privacy of your home? Don’t just rest of your eyes, but get up and stretch your body too.

Stay connected to people and don’t forget to plan for facetime

Working from home can be great, but it can also get lonely. So it can be helpful to occasionally get out of the house and see other signs of human life, just to help you stay connected. Maybe spend a few days or even just a few hours here and there working at a library, a coffee shop, a shared work space or the like just to get out in the world and break up your usual solo work time. And make sure that you regularly connect with the people you actually work with too. Let team members know you can be reached and are accessible. Keep in close contact with your managers and coworkers, whether by email, phone, or Slack so people know what you’re working on and you stay abreast of work happenings – you’ll want to stay involved (even if remotely), have all your good work acknowledged, and feel good about staying in the loop. And if you work relatively close to the rest of your team (and not, say, across the country), it can also be meaningful to connect in person once in a while – so make regular plans to swing by the office or meet for coffee or lunch. It can even be meaningful to connect more widely with people in your industry by maintaining a professional network through sites like LinkedIn or industry organizations. So even if you regularly feel like you work on your own little island and like it that way, do make occasional trips to the mainland to connect.

Set your space up for success

A designated work space can be really beneficial so when sitting down in your office or at your desk you’ll be cued to know it’s time to work. If you don’t have that sort of a work space, even something as simple as working at a tidy table, having the supplies you need close at hand, or hanging an inspirational image nearby can help you get in the zone. And since many of us are able to work from home thanks to modern technology, be sure to get the tech you need to succeed. Do you spend a lot of the day on the phone? Maybe a hands-free headset would make your work day a whole lot better. Maybe some nice wireless speakers, or new headphones, or a larger monitor would do that. Sometimes all you need is a laptop, a table, and chair. But if you would benefit from even a few extra goodies, do what you can to set up a space that helps you feel motivated to get stuff done.

Set boundaries for everyone, yourself included

If you work from home with other people there – parents, a partner, kids, a babysitter – setting clear expectations is key. Letting everyone know when and the ways in which you’re available and not available – especially if you have little ones – will help keep your work day on track. Physical boundaries can be important too – like an office that is off limits to other people while you’re working and are a clear cue for, say, kiddos that you’re busy. And you’ll also want to be clear about just what you can do when home, as much for yourself as anyone else. Can you eat lunch with your kids and the babysitter but can’t put the baby down for a nap? You’ll know what feels like the right balance and what just won’t allow you to be productive. So once you have a plan, make sure that’s communicated clearly with everyone – from your partner to your babysitter to your toddler.

Work in a way that works for you

Everyone’s work from home reality is different, and what works for one person might not work for another, but hopefully these tips can help you create a work from home routine that really works for you.

What is a period?

Your period is the flow of blood and tissue that marks both the beginning and the end of a menstrual cycle. If no egg is fertilized during ovulation, you’ll get a period approximately two weeks afterward. This marks the beginning of a new cycle and provides another opportunity for an egg cell to meet a friendly, healthy sperm cell. Menstruation is triggered by the lack of the hormone progesterone, which spikes after ovulation to prepare the uterus for pregnancy but decreases once again if no fertilization occurs.

How long between periods?

The average time between cycles is 29 days and the average menstruation lasts between 3 and 7 days. These averages can deviate greatly from person to person. Even the same female may have fluctuations in her own cycle over time. In addition, those with irregular periods may notice a varying time span between periods, which can make it more difficult to accurately track ovulation.

Why does tracking my period help determine when I’m fertile?

Individuals who have predictable cycles can use their menstrual dates to better pinpoint when they’ll ovulate. If you’re tracking your period, you’ll be able to identify trends in your cycle that correlate with ovulation. Although it’s more difficult to estimate when your fertile window will occur if you have an irregular period, Ovia is still able to predict it as long as you’re regularly tracking your periods. Tracking one’s period can be incredibly helpful in best determining fertility and ovulation.

How to track your period with Ovia

If you’re a new Ovia user, the app automatically projects the dates and duration of your next periods based on the information you provide at signup about the average length of your period and how regular or irregular your cycle is. If you’re an existing user, Ovia enhances these projections with the daily data you enter, including trends and averages of your past periods.

Ovia makes a distinction on your fertility calendar between period data that you’ve actually logged (the red droplets) and period data that Ovia projected for you (the gray droplets). Look for the gray droplet icons to learn when you can expect your monthly visitor. Ovia projects your upcoming periods over the next 2-3 months, depending on your cycle length.

My predicted period dates are wrong. How do I fix this?

Ovia is powerful, but there’s no way to get every period exactly right, every time, for every person. Small shifts are normal, even in the same person’s menstrual cycle. Logging your actual period data each day is the best way to adjust Ovia’s calculations.

To fix an incorrectly predicted period (where Ovia thought you had your period, but you didn’t), follow these steps:

1. Go to the predicted period in the fertility calendar (you’ll see it as gray droplets)
2. Tap a day when Ovia predicted you had your period
3. On the data logging screen, tap “no period” and save to remove the period
4. Repeat step 3 for all incorrectly predicted days
5. Enter your correct period days and Ovia will adjust its predictions to be more accurate next time

If Ovia correctly predicted your upcoming period on a particular day, tap that day in your calendar and confirm that you got your period to turn the droplet symbol from gray (projected) to red (actual).

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team