Common abbreviations and acronyms

in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN)

A note on the use of abbreviations and acronyms:

Acronyms can be useful shorthand in the medical record and are encountered with great frequency in OB/GYN.  However, their use should be kept to a minimum and should be limited to the written medical record.  Please refrain from “speaking in acronyms” as this tends to hinder rather than facilitate good verbal communication.  The following list should be used as a reference for acronyms you may encounter. 

AC    Abdominal Circumference (of the fetus)

ACOG        American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

AFI    Amniotic Fluid Index

AFP   Alpha Feto-protein

AFV   Amniotic Fluid Volume

AGA  Appropriate for Gestational Age

AID   Artificial Insemination with Donor sperm

AIH   Artificial Insemination with Husband’s sperm

AMA  Advanced Maternal Age (gravida >35yo)

        Against Medical Advice

APR   Anterior and Posterior Repair (=colporrhaphy)

AROM        Artificial Rupture of Membranes

ART   Artificial Reproductive Technology

BhCG Beta (subunit of) Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

BBOW       Bulging Bag of Waters

BPD   Biparietal Diameter

BPP   Biophysical profile

BSO  Bilateral Salpingooophorectomy

Cx/Cvx       Cervix

C/D/I Clean/Dry/Intact (referring to incision)

C/Hyst       Cesarean Hysterectomy

CNM  Certified Nurse Midwife

CPD   Cephalo-Pelvic Disproportion

C/S   Cesarean Section

CST   Contraction Stress Test

Ctx    Contractions

CVS   Chorionic Villus Sampling

D&C  Dilation and Curettage

DES   Diethyl Stilbestrol

DMPA Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DepoProvera)

EAB   Elective Abortion

EBL   Estimated Blood Loss

EC     Emergency Contraception

EDC   Estimated Date of Confinement (=due date)

EDD  Estimated Due Date

EFW  Estimated Fetal Weight

EGA   Estimated Gestational Age

FH     Fundal Height

FHR   Fetal Heart Rate

FHT   Fetal Heart Tones

FL     Femur Length

FM    Fetal Movement

FOB   Father of the Baby

FSE   Fetal Scalp Electrode

FT     Fingertip (referring to cervical dilation)

FTP   Failure to Progress

GA    General Anesthesia

        Gestational Age

GBS   Group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus

GDM  Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

GTT   Glucose Tolerance Test

HC    Head Circumference

hCG   Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

HELLP        Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets syndrome

HRT   Hormone Replacement Therapy

HSV   Herpes Simplex Virus

HUS  Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

IUD   Intrauterine Device

IUFD Intrauterine Fetal Demise

IUGR Intrauterine Growth Restriction

IUP   Intrauterine Pregnancy

IUPC Intrauterine Pressure Catheter

IVF    Intravenous Fluid

        In Vitro Fertilization

IVH   Intraventricular Hemorrhage

KB    Kleihauer-Betke test (aka, acid elution test)

KOH  Potassium Hydroxide (for microscopic diagnosis of yeast)

LDR   Labor-Deliver-Recovery Room

LFVD Low Forceps Vaginal Delivery

LGA   Large for Gestational Age

LML   Left Mediolateral episiotomy

LMP   Last Menstrual Period (first day of)

LOF   Leakage of Fluid

L/S    Lecithin/Sphingomyelin

        Laparoscopy

LSO   Left Salpingooophorectomy

LSTL  Laparoscopic Tubal Ligation

LTCS Low Transverse Cesarean Section

MLE   MidLine Episiotomy

Mec   Meconium

MFM  Maternal Fetal Medicine (Perinatology)

MFVD Mid Forceps Vaginal Delivery

MgSO4       Magnesium Sulfate

MMK  Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz procedure

MSAFP       Maternal Serum Alpha Feto-Protein

MVA  Motor Vehicle Accident

MVP  Mitral Valve Prolapse

NEC   Necrotizing Enterocolitis

NICU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

NST   Non-Stress Test

OC(P)        Oral Contraceptive (Pills)

OFC   OccipitoFrontal Diameter

PG    Prostaglandin

Pit    Pitocin (brand of oxytocin)

PNC   Prenatal Care

PNV   Prenatal Vitamins

POD  Postoperative Day

POL   Preterm Onset of Labor

PPD   Postpartum Day

PPH   Postpartum Hemorrhage

PPROM       Preterm Premature (=prelabor) Rupture of Membranes

PPTL  Postpartum Tubal Ligation

PROM        Premature (prelabor) Rupture of Membranes

PTL   Preterm Labor

PUBS Percutaneous Umbilical Blood Sampling

R      Reactive (non-stress test)

RDS   Respiratory Distress Syndrome

RhIG Rh Immune Globulin (generic name for Rhogam)

RI     Rubella Immune

RNI   Rubella Non-Immune

RSO  Right Salpingooophorectomy

SAB   Spontaneous Abortion

SCP   Sickle Cell Prep

SGA   Small for Gestational Age

SPT   Septic Pelvic Thrombophlebitis

SOL   Spontaneous Onset of Labor

SROM        Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes

SSE   Sterile Speculum Examination

SSLS  Sacrospinous Ligament Suspension

STD   Sexually Transmitted Disease

SVD   Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery

T&S   Type and Screen

TAH   Total Abdominal Hysterecomy

TAB   Therapeutic Abortion

Terb  Terbutaline

TOA  Tubo-Ovarian Abscess

Toco  Tocodynometer

TTTS Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

USN  Ultrasound

VB    Vaginal Bleeding

VBAC Vaginal Birth After Cesarean

VH    Vaginal Hysterectomy

Vtx     Vertex presentation