IVF and work

[Rd12]

Hi, we will soon be attending our pre IVF meeting and hopefully starting soon after. Can anyone tell me how many times do you have to go back to the hospital when Starting IVF? I really do not want to tell anyone at my work but wanted to get an idea of if it is going to be necessary.
Thanks!

[Hermones1]

Hi - I did IVF with a private clinic and once the initial blood tests were done we were visiting every other week for a few weeks, and even twice some weeks.

I did an egg share with my wife though as were a same sex couple so could be less appts in your case.

But there were a lot, I kept it secret from my work using annual leave and doctors and hospital appts to take time out

Good luck with your journey x

[Twickerhun]

I only went in for initial tests then two scans then egg collection and back 5 days later for transfer. It was possible to cover that with at my work and not tell anyone. I booked annual leave for the egg collection and transfer the rest I lied about medical appointments! I had an aborted round of ivf first when I had to cancel my leave plans - that was harder to lie about!

[Rd12]

Thanks both. I have saved at least a weeks leave. Hopefully it will be enough then. When I started reading it sounded like there were scans and tests as well as collection and transfer. I hope I can find enough good reasons to cover!

[physicskate]

I went in for follicle scans the mon, wed, fri then the following mon, tues, weds as I was at risk of over-responding. Egg collection was on the Friday of that week. Transfer was the following weds.

This was short protocol. So all told, 8 times in two and a half weeks (and then had to go back the following Friday for beta hcg, but not everyone does that).

[JeNeBaguetteRien]

I had both long and short protocol at an NHS clinic that decides your egg collection date first and works back from it, no deviations to their schedule as they book the theatre slot then.
With long protocol as it was first cycle there was an appointment to teach how to do injections. Then 2 scans and would have been an appointment for egg collection and then transfer but the cycle was cancelled as I wasn't responding well to drugs (absolutely no question of stimming for longer and I was already on maximum dose).

With short protocol I had a scan on day 2 or 3 to check follicle numbers (they don't usually do this but did due to previous poor response). Then the usual 2 scans, 1 egg collection which I needed the day off for and transfer which I didn't need a day off for but took as leave.
My scans were all early morning and I didn't tell work. I just said I had an appointment and would be a bit late.
My injections were early morning, on scan days they said don't inject until after the scan (in case they needed to alter the dosage as I was no longer on maximum), I just did it in the car and on to work.

My workplace actually has a good IVF policy allowing for appointments but I didn't want to tell them about the IVF in the first place. Some people do find their work supportive, do what is right for you.

[Rd12]

@physicskate I've got the days, at least in half days to cover that I think. Thanks for the info!

[Rd12]

@JeNeBaguetteRien that's really helpful, i'm getting a better idea now of the possibilities. My workplace might let me have one appointment but I am not sure how supportive they would be if they knew. We have not told anyone about our IVF anyway, even friends. Thanks for the help!

[JeNeBaguetteRien]

Rd12 ask the clinic when you are there how many appointments they expect you to have.

I have seen on here people going for multiple scans and blood tests whereas my clinic wouldn't do any of that (not saying it's a good thing but it did make it easy for work).

If you can have scan appointments early and go in late you might be able to get away with a white lie, I made up the time so didn't feel bad being vague about why I was late. You can always have a 'doctor's appointment' for one scan and say you've been booked in for a blood test and have to go back.
For egg collection I did say I was having a minor gynae procedure and took a sick day, but that was because it clashed with a meeting that meant I wouldn't have been granted annual leave.

I haven't told family and have only told v select friends. Personally I don't need the added weight of other people's expectations.

Good luck with it!

[LillyLeaf]

I didn't tell anyone either, too much pressure. I mostly had appointments in the morning and was sometimes a bit late for work, but my work has Flexi time so it worked out. I did a few lunch time visits too. I often sent DP to collect drugs as his work was closer to the clinic. For ec and et I booked holiday off. For the second time I told them I had a hospital appointment for transfer as there was a meeting which I couldn't have booked off as holiday. Somehow it all works out. I'll have to do it all again in September. Good luck