Strategies and Support for Managing Both Worlds

Individuals and couples undergoing fertility treatments quickly learn it’s a part-time job. And, when you consider the energetic and emotional aspects of the infertility journey, it may feel like a full-time job over time because the experience becomes all-consuming.

So, what are the tricks to balancing work life during fertility treatments? How do people schedule the necessary appointments or take time off work when they have a full-time job or a demanding career? And how much do you tell colleagues or bosses about what you’re going through?

6 Tips for Navigating Work While Undergoing Fertility Treatments

These are the questions we’ll answer to help prospective parents, just like you, strike a healthier balance between their work and personal lives during the fertility journey.

1. Choose the right fertility clinic and plan ahead

Start by identifying your fertility plan’s general path. Research local fertility centers, then schedule tours and meet staff to pick the best fit. After choosing a center, you’ll begin infertility testing for an accurate diagnosis. Evaluating both you and your partner enables us to recommend fertility options and timelines.

2. Be proactive about fertility support

No one should feel alone while undergoing fertility treatments. There are the physical ups and downs of fertility medication side effects. Then, there is the reality that many people may need more than one cycle before they get pregnant, which also takes its toll. If miscarriage has been involved, there is another emotionally heartbreaking experience to contend with.

Work life will become far more challenging without the emotional support you need. We recommend tapping into fertility support networks from the outset. Those include everything from online and in-person infertility support groups to meeting regularly with a fertility counselor who is familiar with what you’re going through.

3. Don’t assume you need to take vacation time or PTO

Some patients take time off to relax or because they feel unable to concentrate, but most women don’t need to. You may want a day off for major appointments like egg retrieval or embryo transfer, but you’re usually cleared to return to work right away.

That said, you never know how your body will respond to anesthesia or other fertility medications, so having banked time is a smart idea if you wind up needing more downtime than you thought.

4. Schedule early (or late) fertility treatment appointments

Sometimes, patients find it best to take our earliest morning (or latest afternoon) appointments, adjusting their workday around that. For example, our offices open at 8 a.m., which may leave plenty of time to get to work without anyone knowing the difference. In most cases, fertility appointments are more sporadic, only increasing in number and frequency during the days leading up to egg retrieval. In this way, you hardly lose any work time at all.

5. Decide who to confide in

We know that infertility and fertility treatments are sensitive and private matters. While some share openly, others prefer privacy. Some find relief in sharing their story; others keep it a closely guarded secret. However, it may be wise to tell a few trusted colleagues or managers if you are worried about how all the sporadic days off will impact your work or affect company culture.

If you feel bold, spread awareness and get your company on board for participating in fundraising during the next National Infertility Awareness Week. With 12% of adults facing infertility, you may bring others “out of the infertility closet,” which could lead to company policy changes around the time off required for fertility treatments.

6. Plan for comfort

Some fertility treatments can cause bloating and abdominal tenderness, which means your typical “business professional” attire may or may not feel comfortable. This is an excellent time to invest in roomier, stylish clothes that won’t be distracting on days when you aren’t feeling 100%.

Fertility Treatments That Sync with Work Life

The providers at GIVF Fertility regularly work with individuals and couples balancing work life during fertility treatments. Schedule a consultation and learn more about how to plan for a fertility treatment plan that flows as seamlessly as possible with work and home life.