There’s really no way around it; fertility treatments cause at least some disruption to your daily life. Prioritizing your fertility treatments, such as IVF, IUI, or even freezing your eggs, means doctor appointments take precedence over lunch with friends or a midweek getaway, and medication may make you feel less than optimal. Your entire life seems to revolve around your treatment, and everything, including your job, is affected.
It’s important to remember your treatment isn’t going to go on forever, and, although your life is about to change in so many wonderful ways, things should return to a new normal within a matter of a few months.
How Your Treatment May Affect Your Job
The biggest way your fertility treatments might affect your job is in your need for time off. You’ll need time off for your appointments and procedures, which may include additional time off for recovery.
The emotional and physical impact of undergoing infertility treatment can, at times, be overwhelming. Self-care is crucial to the success of your treatment, so it’s essential to plan time to address any emotional and physical stress that may arise.
Hormonal medications used in infertility treatment carry potential side effects that may be unpleasant and interfere with your workday. Headaches, bloating, cramping, nausea, tender breasts, mood swings, and hot flashes are a few of the more common side effects that may interrupt your day. A more serious side effect of fertility medications is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which may lead to even more serious complications if you don’t limit certain activities. If your job involves physical labor, you may need to make some adjustments.
What to Tell Your Employer
While your employer can’t, by law, discriminate against you for undergoing fertility treatment, it’s best to disclose the information and work together to accommodate your needs during this time. If you have a good rapport with your immediate manager, you can go to them directly so you can work out a plan together.
At the very least, inform your HR department and find out what your company’s policies are regarding this type of medical treatment. Be transparent about what you need and ask them, if applicable, about flex hours or working from home. Again, they cannot discriminate against you for this.
It’s not uncommon for those undergoing fertility treatment to want to maintain a degree of privacy. You don’t need to let your entire work team know what’s going on. If you need time off, you can tell them it’s for a medical condition.
Working While Undergoing Fertility Treatments
You want to keep everything smooth with your work while doing all you can for a successful outcome to your treatment. But stress is a given when you’re undergoing fertility treatment. And many times, work-related stress is unavoidable. Deadlines, meetings, difficult clients or customers, travel, and all the rest are overwhelming aspects of most any job, most any time.
But when you’re stressed and trying to conceive, the journey becomes that much more difficult. That’s why it’s important to navigate your fertility treatments and your job with forethought.
- Find Out Where You Stand: Before you do anything regarding alerting your employer, make sure you know your rights. As we mentioned, certain factors may make work more difficult. Alerting the right people helps alleviate some of these concerns. Only you know how your employer may react to the circumstances of your fertility treatment.
- Know Your Treatment Plan Beforehand: Have a clear understanding of your fertility treatment timeline, as much as possible, before you approach management or HR with details. This should include appointment times, procedures, and any recovery from those procedures. Let your workplace know the timeline is subject to changes depending on how your body reacts.
- Manage Your Schedule Whenever Possible: If you have a flexible schedule, block off your mornings for the time being. You’ll have early morning appointments for bloodwork and ultrasounds that monitor ovulation, as timing is essential to the success of your treatment.
- Consider the Benefits of Disclosing Your Fertility Treatments: If you work with a team that’s close and supportive, you may find it beneficial for you to let them know what’s going on. Your team members may offer much-needed help and encouragement, especially during the more intense phases of your fertility treatment.
- Weigh the Potential Risks of Alerting Your Coworkers: Some coworkers, especially in work environments that are larger or have multiple employees, may see your situation as “preferential.” This creates workplace misunderstandings and even resentment. Consider your company culture and think about discussing your situation with your manager or HR department in hypotheticals before disclosing anything.
Your Treatment Impacts Your Partner, Too
You and your partner are in this together, and everything you go through affects them as well. Your partner wants to support you as much as possible, so your appointments, procedures, and recovery impact their job in many of the same ways. They may or may not wish to disclose your fertility journey with their employer.
You’ll Need Time to Deal with Your Outcome
If your treatment isn’t successful, be gentle with yourselves. Give yourselves time to process your emotions and grieve. Take a day or two for some self-care. Talk with a close friend or family member. It’s essential to your emotional well-being before you move forward on whatever path you decide.
Working with The Right Clinic Makes the Difference
At LA IVF, we tailor your fertility journey to your specific needs, including your career. We have several locations to accommodate you, and we’ll work with your schedule as needed. For more information, please reach out to LA IVF today.
