BFN is an acronym that stands for “Big Fat Negative”. It is commonly used in online forums and messaging apps by women who are trying to get pregnant, referring to getting a negative pregnancy test result when hoping for a positive one.
What does it mean when someone says BFN?
When a woman who is trying to conceive sees the abbreviation “BFN”, it means she took a home pregnancy test that came back negative. This result is disappointing for women who want to get pregnant. The “big fat” part of BFN emphasizes how stark and obvious the negative result on the test was.
Some examples of using BFN in a sentence:
- “I took a pregnancy test this morning and it was a BFN. I’m so bummed.”
- “I thought for sure this was my month, but I got yet another BFN today. Ughhh.”
- “Testing early is just torturing myself. All I ever see are BFNs.”
The BFN acronym is typically used in online forums devoted to trying to conceive (TTC) when women want to vent their frustrations over getting their period instead of the positive pregnancy test they desperately want. The BFN shorthand lets them efficiently communicate their disappointment to others going through the same struggle.
When and why do people say BFN?
Women who are actively trying to get pregnant will start taking home pregnancy tests even before their missed period, often as early as 7-10 days past ovulation. When the test comes back negative at this early stage, they refer to it as a BFN.
Some key times when trying-to-conceive women commonly use the term BFN include:
- Early testing: Taking a pregnancy test too early can result in a negative even if the woman is pregnant. So early BFNs are often unreliable.
- Day of expected period: When their period is due based on their cycle length but hasn’t arrived yet, taking a test that still shows negative is a disappointing BFN.
- After missed period: If their period is late but pregnancy tests still show negative, it’s considered a BFN.
- End of two week wait: The “two week wait” refers to the nail-biting wait after ovulation/insemination to take a test. A negative result = BFN.
BFN is used when women are feeling frustrated and defeated by the ongoing unsuccessful efforts to get pregnant. The BFN acronym lets them bond with others struggling with infertility and loss in online communities.
What are related terms and opposites of BFN?
Some other common terms related to BFN in the trying to conceive community include:
- BFP: Short for “big fat positive”, this refers to getting a clearly positive pregnancy test.
- Squinter: A faint line on a pregnancy test that requires squinting to see if it’s positive or just an indent.
- Evap line: An evaporation line that can look like a false positive on a pregnancy test after the time limit.
- DPO: “Days past ovulation”, used to state when a test was taken during the two week wait.
The opposite of BFN in TTC lingo is BFP or “big fat positive” – the long awaited positive pregnancy test so many women dream of finally seeing. The terms BFN and BFP are antonyms used to succinctly share news about pregnancy test results.
How is BFN used in a sentence?
Here are some examples of how BFN is naturally used in a sentence when discussing early pregnancy testing and trying to conceive efforts:
- “I’m 10 DPO today and got yet another BFN, I’m losing hope this cycle.”
- “My period is a week late but I keep getting BFNs, what’s going on?”
- “I promised myself I wouldn’t test early this month but caved at 8 DPO. Of course it was a BFN.”
- “After a year of trying, I finally got my BFP today after so many soul crushing BFNs!”
What are the origins of the term BFN?
The acronym BFN emerged in the 1990s along with the growth of internet message boards and forums for women trying to get pregnant. Being able to anonymously share details about their conception journeys online led to the creation of shorthand like BFN and BFP.
Using an abbreviation allowed women to succinctly report their test results and emotions surrounding it. BFN captured exactly what many women felt seeing that stark single line on a negative pregnancy test when they so desperately wanted to see two lines.
While its exact origins are unknown, BFN likely originated from women gathering in the early internet fertility communities like IVF.ca looking for support during their difficult TTC journeys. The BFN acronym is still commonly used today on forums, blogs, and social media groups focused on trying to conceive.
BFN versus other pregnancy test abbreviations
BFN is not the only pregnancy test related abbreviation used in the trying to conceive community online. Here’s how it compares to some other common TTC acronyms:
| Acronym | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BFN | Big Fat Negative pregnancy test |
| BFP | Big Fat Positive pregnancy test |
| BFP | Faint positive pregnancy test |
| Evap | Evaporation line on a pregnancy test |
| DH | Dear husband |
| DP | Darling partner |
While BFN and BFP are antonyms, BFPEVAP would refer to a faint positive test result that could potentially be an evaporation line instead of a real positive.
Conclusion
In summary, BFN stands for “big fat negative” and is used by women trying to get pregnant to succinctly report getting an obvious negative result on a home pregnancy test. It is used most often in online forums and communities for TTC support and bonding over the emotional rollercoaster of hoping for a long awaited BFP. While an early BFN can be disappointing or frustrating, it’s not definitive until after a missed period. Patience and persistence is key on the journey to finally see that beautiful BFP!