IVF
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | In vitro fertilization |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical |
IVF has two meanings. It stands for In vitro fertilization (obstetrics & gynecology) or Intravenous fluids (nursing).
Meanings of IVF at a glance
| # | IVF stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | In vitro fertilization | Medical › Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| 2 | Intravenous fluids | Medical › Nursing |
1. In vitro fertilization
Medical · Obstetrics & Gynecology Abbreviations
Fertility treatment in which the ovaries are stimulated with hormones, eggs are retrieved with a needle, fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, and resulting embryos are cultured for several days before one is transferred to the uterus. Extra embryos can be frozen for later use.
Example: IVF cycle 2: 14 eggs retrieved, 6 blastocysts; single euploid embryo transfer planned.
"In vitro" is Latin for "in glass", referring to the laboratory dish, and early IVF babies were nicknamed "test-tube babies". The first, Louise Brown, was born in England on July 25, 1978, after work by Robert Edwards, who received the 2010 Nobel Prize, and Patrick Steptoe. IVF now accounts for about 2–3 percent of US births, and millions of babies worldwide. Success rates fall sharply with maternal age, and single-embryo transfer is encouraged to avoid twins. A February 2024 Alabama Supreme Court ruling treating frozen embryos as children briefly halted IVF in that state. In nursing notes IVF can mean intravenous fluids.
2. Intravenous fluids
Medical · Nursing Abbreviations
Fluids such as normal saline, lactated Ringer's or dextrose solutions given through a vein to replace losses, maintain hydration or correct electrolytes. Orders specify the fluid, additives, rate and duration.
Example: IVF: LR at 125 mL/hr x 1 liter, then reassess volume status.
In reproductive medicine the same letters mean in vitro fertilization, a completely different meaning. Crystalloids such as saline and lactated Ringer's are the usual choice, while colloids like albumin are reserved for specific situations. Large volumes of 0.9% saline can cause hyperchloremic acidosis, one reason balanced solutions are increasingly preferred.
Related abbreviations
More obstetrics & gynecology abbreviations
- IUGR – Intrauterine growth restriction
- IUI – Intrauterine insemination
- IUP – Intrauterine pregnancy
- IUPC – Intrauterine pressure catheter
- LARC – Long-acting reversible contraception
- LEEP – Loop electrosurgical excision procedure
- LGA – Large for gestational age
- LMP – Last menstrual period
See all 89 obstetrics & gynecology abbreviations →
More nursing abbreviations
- INT – Intermittent needle therapy (intermittent infusion device)
- IPC – Intermittent pneumatic compression
- IS – Incentive spirometry
- IUC – Indwelling urinary catheter
- JP – Jackson-Pratt drain
- KVO – Keep vein open
- LBM – Last bowel movement
- LDA – Lines, drains and airways
See all 90 nursing abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.