Hello lovely ladies,

As the topic suggests, how much time off work did you need to take when you were going through the process/es? This is looking like a very likely next stage for us and want to plan around work/leave etc - i may need to let people know if i need to take lots of time off.

Has anyone managed to get by without letting people at work know whats going on?
Does time off vary between procedures?
Was anyone able to do AC without time off work?

Thanks in advance xx

I got through two cycles without telling anyone at work. I was lucky in that I had been there for a few years and had a lot of sick and annual leave accrued.

I had a great relationship with my bosses and had no history of absenteeism re: taking excess sick leave so they were more than OK with me telling them that I was undergoing a series of unspecified medical treatments and that I would sometimes have to take time off without being able to give too much notice in advance.

I was able to get a general medical certificate from my clinic that did not specify anything to do with fertility treatment or IVF and this covered any absences from a HR point of view.

In my case I was able to do all blood tests on the way to work (clinic did these from 7am) so was able to turn up on time with no hassles.

I did take full days off for some ultrasound scans when I had appointments in the middle of the day but if they were in the morning I would do a half day (CBD commute). I also took sick days off for the egg pick up (essential, as you will be under some sort of sedation or anaesthetic) and the transfer (not essential but again chose not to work a part day because of the commute).

I also took a weeks annual leave after my transfer, mainly for mental health reasons and because I had the time up my sleeve.

In my experience the time between procedures will vary and you will only really know when things are going to happen on an appointment by appointment basis. A lot will depend on how your body responds to the drugs so it is not easy to pin down the days you will need to do certain scans and procedures.

Because of this I was also about to get out doing of jury duty. Twice!

Hope that helps OP, and wish you the best of luck.

I had most of my appointments at 8am then went to work afterwards... i did have a day off with the transfer but got a generalised 'xxx had a procedure' certificate so all good.

having said that, everyone at work knew anyway... i work with about 30 women, four of whom were all on AC programs so it was pretty open...

good luck!!!!!

You will need a day off for EPU at least, and probably the day after and the day of transfer (but these are optional). All my BTs and scans were done before work or during lunch break. It was very handy that my clinic is only a 10 minute from work.

One thing you should be aware of is that things are not set in stone and will change. Due to this, you unfortunately can't plan for certain days off before the cycle starts. You will probably know roughly the EPU will be, but the exact day will depend on how you respond to the drugs, follicle numbers and growth etc.

My boss is fantastic, I had to tell her about IVF (this was to do with my actual work - nothing to do with getting time off) so I would simply say that I would probably be taking a couple days sick leave during the week beginning xx but wouldn't know the exact date until the day before and she was fine with that. It obviously depends immensly on your work situation.

I did 8 transfers over 18 months and work had NFI. Did all blood tests/scans before work, and did EPU and ET as a combination of sickies and unspecified "specialist appointments".

Best of luck

*warning* pregnancy loss mentioned







I've done 2 stims and 8 or 9 (can't remember) FET cycles plus I had to have a D&C when I miscarried.

My work has no idea I'm doing AC or even trying for/lost a baby. I also have to travel a long way to my clinic so it involves an overnight stay.

I get all scans, blood tests etc done early in the morning (at our local hospital), and when I need to travel to the clinic I simply say I have a 'specialist appointment'. The clinic writes 'medical procedure' or 'medical condition' on the certificate. Same for DP when he needs to come (*giggle* - how true that is).

Due to the nature of my work I need to organise a replacement when I'm not there, I have a friend trained in the same field who is always happy to work for me - even at short notice - he also doesn't know 'why' I need the time off.

I am a very private person so for me it would be extremely uncomfortable to have to share such personal information with an employer/colleagues so I have found this to be the best solution for me.

*loss mentioned*

Up until last week, I hadn't told anyone at work we're doing IVF. Told my boss I was having some female issues (a cop out I know but it means he never asked any further) and had days off after EPU. BTs, scans etc done before work as others, and EPU I usually went to work and just said I had an appointment for the hour or so it takes.

However, last week after I miscarried, I had the week off and ended up telling my boss. I didn't think a week's absence could go without a more detailed explanation and he was very understanding.

Most workplaces are understanding I think.

Good luck !

my clinic was fantastic about getting me the early appointments or many a lunch break was spent having a FET!

For EPU like the others, I took the day off and on 2 occasions 2 days off (once I had OHSS) although the specialist gave me a medical cert for 3 days for 'hospital procedure"

If you can have all your blood tests early before work, the only time off is really for egg collection day and depending how close your clinic is, some time for the embryo transfer. I always went back to work after ET.

My work never knew.

I did all the tests and ultrasounds before work - the only time I took off was the day of egg collection for our first cycle. Both our fresh and frozen cycles I went back to work after the procedure and was fine. The ET takes about an hour from the time you turn up to the time you can leave (the actual transfer took less than 5 minutes).

With our FET I took the following day off. My work was aware I was undergoing fertility treatment and were really supportive, saying I should take as much time as I needed.

Only time I took off was:
1st cycle = 2 days after EPU (was under light sedation)
2nd cycle = 2 days after EPU (was under light sedation)
3rd cycle = 4 days after EPU (under General anaesthetic)
Told work I was having an operation and needed a few days to rest.

All other appointments were between 7am and 8.30am.

I managed a cycle of IUI without my work becoming aware.

All of my appointments for blood tests and U/S were carried out in the morning. The clinic was in the city so I was able to make appointments before heading straight to work and starting work at the usual time for me.

I did take a day off work as the insemination took place on a friday, I just called in sick. If your insemination date was to fall on a weekend I think you could get away without taking any time off work for IUI.

hi,

I managed 3 x IUI cycles and my first ivf cycle without anyone at work knowing. I scheduled all my scans abd bts for mornings or lunch breaks. Like many of the others here i had a unspecific medical certificate to take the day of for epu and the day of transfer - my job is quite stressful so I didn't want to be all stressed on the day of transfer. It is difficult to plan epu too much in advance as really depends on how your follicles are reposnding to all the ivf meds. Similarly it is difficult to plan much in advance for transfer as you can have transfers on days 2, 3, 4 or 5 - depends on how the embryos are developing and what your fs and emryologist think. You can kind of estimate to make plans but nothing concrete, taking sick days for these things is easier.

After my 1st m/c I told my manager and some work colleagues - not all of them, just on a need to know basis, because I needed 1 week of to recover from the d&c. Sadly I have since been through another 3 m/c's and 2 d&c's but my mangager has been supportive and understanding of the need for very last minute time off work. I ended up using up all my sick leave for ivf and now am using annual leave. Because of complications from my recurrent m/c history my fs actually requested me to cut back on work completely when I do cycles. He wrote me a 1 line letter requesting my work place to cut my hours back from 5 to 3 days for 'medical reasons'. He gave no details but on his letterhead it says he is an obgyn so HR at work got the drift. My manager (even though an old fuddy duddy male) has been great. HR were a bit painful as they asked some very personal questions which I evaded as much as possible. I now work 3 days per week and this really helps with all the complications involved in my ivf journey.

Wishing you a short and successful ivf journey.