Surrogacy is full of acronyms! I thought it would be fun to create a list. I will try to update it as they change or if I forget any. If you know of any that are missed, send me a message to add to the list!
IP: Intended Parents
The people or person who will be the parent of the baby.
GC: Gestational Carrier, interchangeable with Gestational Surrogate and just surrogate
The technical term for a surrogate who is not using her eggs to create the pregnancy. The person who carries the pregnancy.
TS: Traditional Surrogate
A surrogate who is using her eggs in combination with the sperm to create the pregnancy and then creates the pregnancy.
RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist
This is the fertility doctor who specializes in helping people achieve a pregnancy. This is the doctor that will walk you through the IVF process.
POAS/Pee-on-a-Stick
This is taking an at home pregnancy test.
Assisted Reproductive Technology/ART
A general term for any aspect of assisted reproduction such as embryo creation, surrogacy, egg donation, etc.
IVF/In-vitro Fertilization
The process of egg retrieval and sperm sample, then combining the egg and sperm to create an embryo, then transferring the embryo to the uterus.
BCP: Birth Control Pills
Used in surrogacy to control timing.
PIO: Progesterone in Oil
The hormone progesterone that’s injected through a syringe
FET: Frozen Embryo Transfer
A frozen embryo that’s thawed and then transferred to the uterus.
2WW: Two Week Wait
The time between an embryo transfer and a blood test to determine pregnancy.
Beta: HcG level Blood Test
The beta HcG level blood test determines pregnancy. A number that doubles is a good sign. People in the surrogacy community will often just call this beta. As in “what’s your beta?”
PBO: Pre-birth Order
Some states allow a pre-birth order which is establishes parentage before a baby is born.
These are just some of the more common acronyms used in surrogacy. Do you know any that should be added to the list? Send me a message below and I might add them.
