Figures from Fertility Network UK reveal that one in six couples in the UK – or 3.5 million people – have, or will experience, fertility challenges. Nearly 70,000 IVF treatment cycles are carried out each year in the UK.
One in four women experience miscarriage, 80% of single women suffer from fertility decline because they are still to find the right partner and 40% of all fertility problems are due to male factor infertility. LGBT+ employees planning to start a family may require support with adoption, donor conception or surrogacy matters, too.
Simply put, fertility challenges can – and do – affect anyone. Seeking the right support and treatment can be an exhausting process, coupled with significant financial, mental and physical burden for all involved.
An IVF cycle often costs over £6,000 coupled with an less than 50% chance of pregnancy. A treatment cycle can involve weeks of hormone injections and countless clinic visits for blood tests, scans and invasive procedures. Given employees spend around a third of their lives at work, it’s unsurprising that their mind can sometimes be elsewhere, leading to reduced productivity.
