I have only missed work for emergency room days, otherwise I have been able to work fine. I always schedule US appointments before work. The latest I have been for work is 10 minutes.
I have been working full-time as an ER nurse throughout the entire IVF journey. It has been challenging, but I have been transparent with my colleagues and manager about my needs for schedule adjustments. They have been incredibly supportive during this time. My emotions have been all over the place, but going to work has helped me stay grounded.
I made the decision to switch to a part-time schedule while undergoing IVF, as it has been incredibly helpful for me. I found it difficult to work full-time as an attorney while traveling to Europe for treatments. Managing work remotely from a different time zone, along with flights, procedures, and recovery, proved to be challenging. I wish I could have taken more time off or not worked at all during this process. I have a lot of respect for those who continue to work full-time during IVF, as well as those who choose to step back from work. It’s important to prioritize your mental health and do what is best for your situation. Listen to your body and be kind to yourself.
Consider reducing your workload instead of stopping completely. It’s important to have something else to focus on besides IVF. I’m currently going through round 3 with no success, but my work is providing some satisfaction. It’s essential to have a balance and not let IVF consume your life. Maybe cutting down to half or a third of your clients could be a possible solution.
My journey with IVF lasted for more than four years, so while I wish for a quicker process for others, it’s important to consider that this could be a significant time commitment for you. Just something to keep in mind.
I struggled working full time as an ER nurse during 3 rounds of IVF due to DOR. It was incredibly difficult and mentally exhausting. Despite feeling drained, I continued working to save my PTO, only taking a week off after each retrieval. Taking time off is essential for emotionally draining jobs like ours. If possible, I highly recommend taking time off to recharge.
In my opinion, it ultimately boils down to three factors: the level of stress in your job, the flexibility it offers, and your own mental well-being. Luckily, I have a job with great flexibility and generous reproductive leave benefits. Additionally, I am not currently experiencing a high level of stress at work. The support of a free counselor at my fertility clinic has been invaluable in maintaining my mental health. If either of these factors were different, I might consider taking a longer unpaid leave. However, I find that working helps the days pass quickly, especially during the Two-Week Wait. Ultimately, it’s important to prioritize what is best for you. Being a full-time mental health counselor can be intense, so remember to take care of yourself.
Content warning: successful
In March, I despised my job so much that I complained to my husband every day about quitting. By August, he suggested I take time off to reduce stress. I officially resigned in September. I consider myself fortunate to have guilt-free recovery time. Although I don’t believe the break influenced it, I had a successful pregnancy after quitting. Currently 26 weeks along. In my opinion, if you have the opportunity to take a break during IVF, do it. It can be incredibly stressful and physically taxing. The constant appointments can make for long days, especially when scheduled before work. For me, leaving my job was the best decision for both myself and my husband.
Hiding IVF treatment from work can be challenging, especially when trying to schedule appointments and procedures around your job. I’ve had to be creative in my excuses for time off, often referring to “medical procedures” without providing details. Juggling multiple part-time jobs and constantly adjusting my schedule to accommodate appointments has been exhausting. It’s been tough getting through long days and early mornings, all while maintaining the secrecy of my IVF journey. If given the choice, I would have preferred not working during this process, but the reality is that IVF is a lengthy and complex journey that requires dedication and flexibility.
During my recent travels, I have been lucky to work from home or have a flexible schedule for the past 2.5 years. This allows me to make up for the time spent driving to and from appointments by working extra hours at night or on weekends. As a low responder, I didn’t experience many side effects and found that keeping busy with work helped distract me. I also didn’t want to use up all my PTO on appointments in case I became pregnant.
In May, I decided to leave my full-time teaching job and spend the summer searching for a more flexible, possibly remote job with less stress. Luckily, I found exactly that. I mentioned to my husband last night that switching jobs was the best decision I made during our IVF journey. This change has given me more freedom, flexibility and allows me to focus on my life’s main priority. The investment of money, time, and emotions into IVF deserve to be the top priority in our lives.
I did not take any time off for IVF as I believe it can make the process seem more daunting than it needs to be. I continued with my usual routine, with some adjustments after the egg retrieval and transfer, and found that sticking to my normal activities helped me stay calm and positive.
I found it helpful to stay focused on work during this time since I work remotely. The process of office visits, surgeries, and transfers can take longer than expected, with multiple steps and potential delays. In my experience, it took several months of appointments and procedures before achieving any success. If you have limited time off, consider saving it for after the transfer to prioritize self-care and relaxation.
Working in inpatient psych can be challenging and not for the faint of heart, but I was able to manage it, taking PTO for procedures that caused me pain. If possible, it may be better not to work, but if that’s not feasible, don’t stress about it.
I decided to take a break between treatment cycles to travel abroad and get some much-needed distraction. Taking a vacation away from all the stresses really helped me clear my mind and refocus for the next round of retrievals after unsuccessful transfers.
I completed three rounds without any breaks, finding that the anticipation of the process was more challenging than the actual experience. I believe if I had more free time, I would have felt even more stressed. By fitting it into my schedule, I was able to alleviate some of the pressure.
I am also a mental health counselor and it can be challenging to maintain the level of mental presence required for therapy while dealing with the effects of medications. I had to adjust my expectations of what my “best” looked like and be compassionate with myself. I didn’t take extended time off, but allowed myself to take half days or call in when needed. Good luck to you!
I had to leave my job because the workload was overwhelming and I was on call every other week. If I needed time off, I was responsible for finding coverage for my cases, even if I was sick. It was too much to handle. I found a new job that allows me to choose my hours and caseload, but it meant a significant pay cut.
It’s not always just the appointments you need time off for; it’s how your body responds to medications and the impact on your medical and physical health. I found the egg retrieval to be fine and had FMLA as a backup, though I didn’t end up needing it. However, since then, I’ve experienced a miscarriage, a cancelled FET, and an unsuccessful FET, leading me to consider FMLA, short term disability, or taking unpaid leave. The stress and impact on my mental health have been significant, even as a typically high-functioning individual. I’m currently on an IVF break and finally feeling clear-headed after months of hormonal influence. My demanding job requires a clear mind in order to lead and make sound clinical decisions. It’s important to realize that everyone’s journey is unique and to trust your instincts when making decisions for your body. Best of luck to you.
I completed four consecutive retrievals followed by an FET cycle without taking much time off between procedures. I made sure to schedule my monitoring appointments early in the morning to avoid missing work, as I work from home. Thankfully, my salaried position gives me the flexibility to attend appointments without my absence being noticed. I prefer to keep my family planning journey private from my employer. Despite the demanding schedule, I didn’t feel the need for extended breaks as it took seven months of continuous treatment to reach the transfer stage.