How much time off will I need for IVF

[Swampy_time]

Hi guys

I’m waiting for my first round of IVF. I know which clinic is like to use but we are still waiting for our appointment.

I’ve been chatting with my boss about the time off I will need as I’m already flapping about it.

I have a pretty stressful job (at times) and I know there will be lots of appts etc. I’m just not sure how many so am looking for a bit more info.

My employer would treat it like a normal medical appt so that would normally involve working it back, however, that worries me as I feel like I will be working 7 days a week to try and make my time back. It’s obviously a time where I need not to be stressed too.

How much time am I likely to need off/what is the appt schedule normally like?

Did any of you just take the whole time off as sick to minute stress and make the working time back not a worry?

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

Laura

[Kitty230515]

I managed to get my appointments early in the day so they didn’t interfere too much with my work.

My collections thankfully fell on a Friday, so I had that day off.

And my transfers have fallen on a Wednesday so I took the rest of the week off after that.

This round I was furloughed so it was a lot easier.

Hope this helps.

Good luck with it all xx

[Swampy_time in reply to Kitty230515]

Thank you. That’s really helpful.

Did you feel stressed trying to work and manage your appts or was it not too bad? X

[Kitty230515 in reply to Swampy_time]

It wasn’t too bad the 1st time.

My boss wasn’t as understanding the 2nd round, so I took holiday and unpaid leave.

My job isn’t particularly stressful, I’m a receptionist at a dental practice, so although I’m very busy. I don’t take the stress home with me. But my boss was not supportive or understanding about any of it.

But my line manager was fantastic, she just said if you have an appointment you have an appointment and you’ll need to go.

The clinic were helpful as well with getting me either the early appointments or late appointments so it didn’t disrupt things too much.

We had to go private though as didn’t qualify for NHS treatment xxx

[Swampy_time in reply to Kitty230515]

Brill. Thank you so much

[Nat246]

Hi Laura, it firstly depends on if you’re long or short cycle. Long means more appts to attend. My recent short cycle I had x3 monitoring scans, then egg collection (you’ll probably want the whole day off as you’ll be heavily sedated or given general anaesthetic so might feel groggy) and the transfer day. So five in total. If you’re at a private clinic you can expect to be seen on time. But nhs hit and miss! I once was seen 2hrs30mins late at an nhs appt! For monitoring scans they don’t take long (less than 30 minutes usually) and fine to return to work. After transfer, it’s fine to return to work but you’ll be feeling anxious and it’s also a special day so I always take the whole day off. Even though you can’t ‘knock’ the embryo you feel like you want to take it easy and gently just in case. Monitoring scans are usually on a Monday Wednesday Friday of the same week, egg collection the following week (mines always been the Wednesday) and then transfer usually five days after that so it’s spreads out over approx two weeks. I always work except the two days I take annual leave and make up hours. I guess it depends on what your sick policy is at work, I couldn’t have taken the whole time off without doctors evidence for that length of time and I’m not sure if I’d have got it. I also didn’t want to be off as work is a good distraction. Good luck!!

[Swampy_time in reply to Nat246]

Thanks so much Nat . This is a super helpful answer. Really appreciate it.

I have fairly short cycles, they’re a most always 26-27 days so fingers crossed that will help x

[Nat246 in reply to Swampy_time]

Hi Laura, short or long doesn’t mean your period cycle, it’s the kind of treatment you are having. Long cycles shut down the reproductive system first with drugs, short cycles don’t. So this will be a question you can ask your doctor, are they putting you on long or short and why have they chosen that for you x

[Swampy_time in reply to Nat246]

Ah ok, good to know. Thanks

[Shirazlover2013]

Hiya I always work throughout as like you I have a very busy job. Whenever booking appointments I ask how long it is likely to be. Each clinic do things slightly differently so it’s worth asking for an outline of the whole process like a timeline to make sense of it if you’re new to it.

Our initial treatment run through is a long one so might take half a day holiday, all the paperwork, drug prescription/pick up and last minute blood tests and $£££ is done then. Monitoring scans and blood tests are short so I make up the time (they’re often every 2 days in the middle of the stimulation part, usually about 4 appointments). Egg collections are definitely a whole day off due to sedation/anaesthetic. Transfer is swift like a smear test but can be emotional so I usually take half day off that day. It’s hard to prebook certain dates for these as it can change last minute so in the past I’ve given my boss the heads up about treatment and kept my schedule flexible for those days. Or you can book the dates in with an understanding with your boss that it might move by a day or two either way. All the best xx

[Swampy_time in reply to Shirazlover2013]

Thank you. It’s helpful to speak with someone who has a mad busy job too!

[Ketkoot]

Hi ya. I start my first cycle next weekend. The clinic have already given me all my appointments so I can work around them. I have 2 scans and 1 appointment to be Covid swabbed.

I am front line in the NHS and my clinic want me to shield from starting injections which I can’t really do, I will be more careful with patient contacts but they are going to sign me off sick for 2 weeks once they collect my eggs. Initially this was stressing me out, I prefer to be busy at work but my work hasn’t been the most understanding so I am now looking forward to the time off!

Good luck with what ever u decide! X

[Swampy_time in reply to Ketkoot]

Ooo good luck to you too!

It’s good that they’ve provided the dates up front. I’m pleased they’re signing you off sick, whilst you might be pulling your hair out at least you know you’ll be safe!

[Libsie3103]

Hi, it can definitely be daunting thinking about fitting it all in around an already busy life / job! As Kitty said I had most of my appointments for scans etc as early as possible so they didn't impact on the day, most clinics open around 0730 / 0800 and when my appts were later I just made the time up. Mine was a fresh cycle and I had my baseline scan and then 3 monitoring scans but it can vary.

You will definitely need the day of egg collection off, and maybe the next day. This cycle my clinic also advised me to take time off in the run up to egg collection so I had the Thursday & Friday off before EC on Monday. Have you checked if your work has an IVF policy? Lots do.

I've also got a really supportive GP so I have asked her to sign me off for the 2WW. Lots of people find work helpful and a good distraction but my job can be really stressful so I'd prefer to do all I can. All I would say is try to make decisions that mean you won't live with regret and 'what ifs' if it doesn't work. At the end of the day work is work and this is so much more important xx

[Swampy_time in reply to Libsie3103]

Hi

Yes that’s where I am at with the stress situation. I only want to attempt it for one cycle And then if it doesn’t work I think that I just want to come to terms with a child free life.

We get one cycle free but then none of the others, but it’s more the emotional stress of it all and I don’t want my life to be taken over by it for years and years.

My employer doesn’t have an IVF policy 😫 so it’s just a normal medical appt for me and then work it back. I’ve set my managers expectations though that I’m worried about the stress and if I need to then I will speak with the clinic about being signed off. I’m lucky because Im going to be working from home for a long time yet.

I’ve just had the call and I’m waiting for the clinic to get in touch now. Although It looks like it’s going to clash with a holiday we have planned now which has cost too much to cancel. So we may have to delay until January now anyway, which is so frustrating.

[Same0508]

Hi.... Our timing doesn't matter in ivf... You should be there in clinic as it's your hormones which are monitored to set a time for transfer... .. With my experience I'm saying don't reschedule transfer appointments set by clinic as they are according to your body and embryo timings...gud luck... Be positive...

[Swampy_time in reply to Same0508]

Thank you! X

[Twiglet2]

Hey- you can usually get your Test/scan appointments early morning so doesn’t interfere to much with work. You will need a day off for egg collection and probably the next day too in case you are a bit sore. I didn’t but I worked from home that day. You won’t be able to plan those too far in advance but hopefully they will let you use annual leave for those days.

You will need some time off (a half day) for transfer so you could maybe work that time back (my work don’t make you do this for medical appointments but sounds like your employer is pretty crap in that respect).

I don’t take any other time off at all. Although I have booked a few days off this time about when I think my transfer will be just to unwind for the first few days of 2WW. but as this will be 2WW number 9 I would say this is defo not needed every time and usually better to be at work to keep your mind off of the wait 😂

Honestly don’t get in a flap about it quite yet just take it one step and appointment at a time And work with your employer as it comes 👌🏻 Xx

[Swampy_time in reply to Twiglet2]

Thank you! Really appreciate you taking the time to reply 💓