The internet can be an excellent resource for infertile  couples to find and connect with others facing the same difficulties. Your Kansas City fertility doctors should be able to recommend some appropriate websites, forums or blogs. You may  also choose to search on your own.

There are a myriad of sites, some  encompassing all types of fertility issues to those dealing with specific  categories, such as women over 50 trying to conceive. Free sites such as  fertilityfriend.com are available to help you chart your ovulation, and the  iPhone has a (paid) app called MeFertil to help you keep track of your  fertility information.

If you are unsure about the usefulness or veracity of knowledge  you find on the web, be sure to ask your Kansas City fertility doctor’s advice. 

Forums, message boards and blogs use their own abbreviations  which can be confusing for the newcomer. The first acronym you will run into is  TTC- Trying to Conceive. The following is an alphabetical list of many other  acronyms you may see on blogs, message boards, and forums:

  AF- Aunt Flo (period)
  AH- Assisted  hatching
  ART- Assisted reproductive technology
  BBT charting- Basal body temperature charting
  BCP- Birth control pills
  BD- Babydancing (refers to sexual intercourse)
  BFN- Big fat negative
  BFP- Big fat positive
  CD- Cycle day
  CM- Cervical mucous
  DD/DD- Dear daughter/dear son
  DH- Dear husband
  DI- Donor  Insemination
  DPO- Days  post-ovulation
  DPT- Days  post-transfer
  DX- Diagnosis
  ET- Embryo  transfer
  FET- Frozen  embryo transfer
  FSH- Follicle  stimulating hormone
  HPT- Home pregnancy test
  HSG- Hysterosalpingogram
  ICI -Intra-cervical  insemination
  IF-  Infertility
  IUI- Intrauterine insemination
  IVF- In vitro fertilization
  LAP-  Laparoscopy
  LPD- Luteal  phase defect
  MC or M/C  -Miscarriage
  OPK- Ovulation predictor kits
  PCOS- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
  PG- Pregnant
  POAS - Pee on a stick
  POF-  Premature ovarian failure
  RE-  Reproductive Endocrinologist
  SA- Semen analysis
  TX-  Treatment

If you are facing fertility challenges,  psychological support during this time is important. You may discover that  counseling by a mental health practitioner is needed. Consult your local fertility  doctors in Kansas City for help finding emotional support groups and counseling  that is right for you and your partner.