As the Head of Patient Services and Operations at The Evewell fertility clinic in London, I have the privilege of working with individuals and couples navigating the complex and often emotionally challenging journey of fertility treatments, including IVF.

One of the most common concerns I hear from patients is about how to balance their fertility treatments with their everyday lives, particularly work and social commitments, especially when handling fertility appointments and requests for time off.

It’s a valid concern: IVF can be intense, and the demands that the medical appointments and daily drug treatment can place on your time and energy are real. However, with some planning, it’s entirely possible to fit IVF into your life.

Fertility, infertility and sub-fertility: definitions, symptoms and treatment

Understanding the timings of IVF

IVF is typically divided into several key stages.

Ovarian stimulation: This phase begins on day two or three of your menstrual cycle and lasts about 10-12 days. If you have irregular periods or you don't get your period, medications can be given to induce a bleed. During this time, you’ll be taking daily hormone injections to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Regular monitoring is crucial during this stage, which involves blood tests and ultrasound scans every two to three days.

Egg collection: Once your follicles have matured, egg collection is scheduled. This procedure is done under sedation, usually in the morning. The procedure is quick, and you will normally be discharged home to rest for the day within a couple of hours. Egg collection allows the retrieval of eggs directly from the ovaries before they pass through the fallopian tubes.

Embryo transfer: The transfer usually happens five days after egg collection (or during a subsequent treatment cycle if you’re having a frozen embryo transfer). It’s even quicker than the egg collection and doesn’t require sedation, so most people feel comfortable returning to work either the same day or the next.

The two-week wait: After the embryo transfer, there’s a 10-14 day waiting period before you can take a pregnancy test. During this time, we recommend continuing with your normal routine as much as possible. You can continue with light exercise, but we don’t recommend high-intensity workouts, or lifting heavy weights.

How often will I need to visit the clinic?

During the ovarian stimulation phase, you'll be expected to visit the clinic every two to three days. These appointments for fertility treatment typically include a blood test and an ultrasound scan to monitor how your body is responding to the medication.

While the idea of frequent fertility treatment appointments can seem daunting, we do our best to accommodate your schedule. Appointments are usually 30 to 45 minutes long and can often be arranged to be early in the morning, to help you fit treatment around work. If your employer has a fertility policy in place, it may help with scheduling flexibility and managing your requests for time off.

How much notice will I get?

One of the concerns many patients have is how much notice they'll receive for key appointments, particularly for egg collection and embryo transfer. At The Evewell, we understand that your work schedule is important, so we aim to give you as much notice as possible.

We would usually start treatment on day 2 or 3 of your period, so that first scan is dependent on Mother Nature! Again, if you don't get your period, a bleed can be induced with medication. But from there you’ll generally have a good idea of the timing of the rest of your scans. All of our treatment cycles are bespoke and designed to optimise the outcome, therefore, on occasion, we may tweak the timings of your scans.

Similarly, your egg collection is timed specifically to retrieve the best possible number of eggs, so while we will predict when this will fall, you will get confirmation two days in advance – when you’ll take your trigger injection.

For embryo transfer, this depends more on the treatment type you’re having, and if you’re opting for a fresh or frozen transfer, or PGT-A testing. But you’ll have more of an idea once you have your egg collection, allowing you to plan accordingly.

Managing time off work

IVF does require some time off work, but with careful planning, it’s manageable. The key dates you’ll need time off for are:

Egg collection: This is the one procedure that will definitely require a full day off. The procedure itself is quick, but you’ll be under sedation and will need time to recover.

Embryo transfer: Although the embryo transfer is quick and minimally invasive, some patients prefer to take the rest of the day off to rest. However, if you feel up to it, you can return to work.

General flexibility: While the stimulation phase doesn’t typically require full days off, it might be an idea to inform your employer that you might need some flexibility for your early morning fertility appointments. Many employers are understanding when they know what you’re going through. It's a good idea to check with your manager or with HR if your company has a supportive workplace policy for fertility and family-forming. A supportive workplace policy could give you more of an idea of how much time you can take off, and how to book it off, without needing to ask each time.

Making life easier during IVF

There are several things you can do to make the IVF process easier on yourself, both physically and emotionally.

Limit social plans: IVF can be tiring, especially during the stimulation phase. It’s OK to decline social invitations and focus on self-care. Prioritise rest and relaxation during this time.

Communicate with your employer: If you feel comfortable, consider informing your employer about your treatment and making a request for time off. You don’t need to share every detail, but letting them know that you’re undergoing a medical procedure that might require some flexibility can help ease your stress.

Build a support system: Surround yourself with supportive people who understand what you’re going through. Whether it’s your partner, family, friends, or a support group, having people who can provide emotional support can really help.

Practice self-care: This might sound obvious, but taking care of yourself is crucial during IVF. Whether it’s through light exercise, meditation, or simply taking time out to relax, find what helps you manage stress and make it a priority.

The importance of choosing a flexible clinic

When undergoing IVF, the timing of certain procedures is crucial, and your treatment shouldn’t be compromised by the clinic's operating hours.

The human body doesn’t follow a strict calendar, and embryos don’t recognise weekends or bank holidays, so it’s essential to choose a clinic that offers the flexibility to perform procedures, such as blastocyst stage transfers or PGT-A biopsies, on weekends if necessary.

If a clinic can’t accommodate these clinical and embryology procedures because they fall on a Sunday, then they shouldn’t offer them at all. Your treatment plan should be dictated by what’s best for your success, not the clinic’s schedule.

IVF success requires flexibility and support

IVF is undoubtedly a significant commitment, but it doesn’t have to take over your life. With the right planning, communication, and support, you can successfully balance your treatment with your work and personal life.

At The Evewell, we pride ourselves on putting the patient at the centre of everything we do. Our clinic is open seven days a week, because we know that every body is different, and we want to give you the best possible chance of success.

If you'd like any additional resources and support on fertility or managing fertility in the workplace, check out Fertility Network UK's website.