Is anyone else finding it tough to balance work while going through IVF? I’ve been struggling to keep up with my job responsibilities while also dealing with the physical and emotional challenges of fertility treatments. It’s been exhausting and overwhelming at times. I’d love to hear how others are managing this delicate juggling act. Feel free to share your experiences, tips, or just some words of encouragement. Let’s support each other through this journey!
I initially attempted to take time off during my first IVF cycle but was denied FMLA and leave of absence. Despite working throughout the process, it wasn’t a major inconvenience as most appointments were early in the morning. In subsequent rounds, I juggled IVF treatments with being a nursing student and working full time without any significant issues. I found that staying busy helped maintain my mental health, so I prefered not taking time off.
I would say that my only caution is that IVF can end up taking much longer than anticipated. I began the process in December 2023 and had expected to be pregnant within a few months, but that has not been the case. If I had taken time off work, I believe it would have added another level of stress - wondering how long I should continue to take off, and so on. Throughout this seemingly endless process, I have been trying to maintain a sense of normalcy in my life.
Work was a helpful distraction for me, I believe I would have been even more absorbed in my thoughts if I had stayed at home.
I am a professional orchestral musician and last month, amidst undergoing IVF treatments, I was called in with just 2 hours notice to sight read for a prestigious concert with a top 5 orchestra in the country. I only agreed because the concert had no intermission and ended around 9:30pm, allowing me to still receive my hormone shots on time. My husband was waiting in the car to help me with the injections after the concert, making it one of the most surreal nights of my life.
I find that the period after the egg retrieval is even more challenging than being on the medications. Along with the anxiety of waiting for results and seeing the decrease in numbers, there is also the physical toll of coming down from a high dose of hormones. I work from home, so attending morning appointments for monitoring was manageable. I would usually take off Thursday to emotionally prepare and unwind before the Friday procedure.
I have been keeping busy with work, which has been a good distraction for me. It’s refreshing to have conversations about topics other than IVF/infertility.
I work full-time and only needed a sick day for the retrieval, which luckily fell on a Friday. I probably would have taken another day to rest before the transfer. I took it easy during the process and didn’t lift anything heavy. Most of the monitoring appointments were early in the morning at around 6:30 am. Have you completed all of the necessary diagnostic tests? Scheduling the HSG was the most challenging, but it was done early on in the process.
Currently, I am grateful to be working from home, but in the past, I was a high school teacher for 7 years. I’m not sure how I would have balanced teaching full time with IVF treatment. Taking days off for mental health reasons would have been necessary. However, having a low-stress job helped distract me from the process. I spent my time baking and playing video games since my job is not very demanding. You might want to try it out for a few days and see how it works for you.
After quitting my job, I found a better one, but in between I underwent IVF. It was impossible to do with a job, as I had to go to the clinic or lab daily for 2 weeks, not knowing the schedule until the day before. The ultrasounds were exhausting, and needing rest after each one was necessary. Getting a wand up your vagina is not enjoyable.
Having some flexibility to arrive late or leave early for appointments can be beneficial, as others have pointed out. The distraction can actually be helpful. My initial cycles were conducted during the Covid/working from home period which made it slightly easier, but I have completed multiple cycles while working full-time, only taking time off for procedures and recovery.
In my first cycle, I wasn’t working, but in my second cycle, I had a job. Cycle 1 was easier because I treated it like a full-time job and had time for self-care. Despite knowing what to expect, I felt more stressed in the second cycle. My symptoms were more intense and the stimulation cycle was longer. Having a busy job with meetings made it more difficult. Taking leave, especially around retrieval, is helpful, but with flexibility and self-care, it’s manageable without it.
I was able to handle my office job while dealing with my health issues. I took longer lunch breaks for appointments and stored my medication in the office fridge. I sometimes had to give myself injections in the car before meetings. I was grateful for work keeping my mind busy during this tough period.
Personally, I would struggle if I had nothing else to focus on. My job involves frequent international travel, which can be challenging to schedule alongside IVF treatments. Despite the time commitment, I believe that dedicating all my time solely to IVF would have been overwhelming, as most days the process only requires a few minutes of attention.
The initial week wasn’t too difficult, but the final days were tough yet manageable. My cycle was around 12 days long, and on the day of retrieval, I felt bloated and terrible. Despite having a demanding job, I was able to push through, only taking a day off due to pain after the procedure.
I continued to work during IVF, taking only the day of and day after retrieval off. Having another focus was beneficial, as I didn’t experience many physical effects. If I had felt unwell, I could have used sick time.
I highly suggest trying it! I underwent four retrievals and two unsuccessful transfers, which had a major impact on my mental well-being. My stressful job with long hours only added to the strain. After taking a break, my third transfer was successful, leading to the birth of my baby.
Each person is unique. If you sense that you require a break, prioritize self-care and give yourself the time off. How far along are you in your journey? Are you about to start your first round?
Hello! I wanted to mention that I am a full-time mental health counselor specializing in individual therapy. I will be starting my first IVF cycle in August, so I haven’t had to handle it before. When it comes to my IUIs, I typically took time off as needed and tried to notify my clients with 48 hours notice when possible. Thankfully, my boss is very understanding and supportive, so there haven’t been issues from the company’s side. However, I do struggle with feeling guilty when I have to cancel or reschedule appointments. My current plan is to schedule monitoring appointments before work and take a few days off for the egg retrieval, and possibly take a day off for the embryo transfer (haven’t fully planned that yet). I am concerned about managing the emotional and physical effects of the medications and procedures while balancing work responsibilities.
As a mental health counselor, it is crucial to acknowledge when you need to prioritize your own mental health. I am grateful for the flexibility in my schedule that allowed me to take a break and focus on my well-being while also being available for IVF needs.