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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To quiet quit at work due to TTC stress

134 replies

Maomee · 28/06/2026 10:46

NC due to personal nature. Sorry, bit of a rambly and negative one.

Just so utterly fed up with it. On month 10 of TTC now and yes 'that can be normal' and 'that isn't even long OP' blah blah but actually the vast majority of couples conceive at least once within 6 months so to have 10 months of BFNs whether I tested or simply didn't and had AF showed up is really fucking hard. For reference I'm 34 and my partner is 36.

The worst part is definitely the uncertainty, for example if someone said it would definitely happen at some point I'd be happy to wait but it's awful knowing that as time goes on you are much more likely to have some problem preventing it. Only thing I know of is one smallish fibroid that was found last year during an ultrasound for other symptoms. Apparently it probably wouldn't prevent pregnancy but I don't even know if I can listen to doctors opinions on such things after all the times they've let me down on other health issues which should have been very straightforward to deal with.

Like many women I tend to find I can be quite positive about it for the first half of my cycle then my mental health flies into the bin during the TWW. It's all getting a bit tedious now.

Why I'm posting is that after all my worry on this, I'm finding myself much less inclined to give a toss at work. I have a relatively demanding role which can be quite tiring, and even though there are mixed ideas of how stress interacts with TTC (believe me, I've trad it all) I'm now at a point where I'm like 'maybe my effort at work is the thing preventing it?'. Whether this is rational or not it reflects a real shift in my mentality, as up until now I've been keen to do my best, try new things, give more than is expected at times for the benefit of the people I work with.

This is complicated by the fact that I work with the public, I won't specify exactly how but most of the people I work with are not employed and at any one point there are at least a few who are pregnant. There is definitely part of my mind that thinks 'perhaps these women have an easier time getting pregnant because they're not at work like me'. There may be some element of truth to this, as some people say that any stress does reduce fertility. But whether it's true or not, I just can't bring myself to give my best at work now. I would also add that I don't begrudge these women for not working, it's more the suspicion that being free from work stress may be beneficial in conceiving. Maybe I'm just starting to reach a point where I'll try anything, AIBU?

OP posts:
Maomee · 28/06/2026 17:17

Swiftie1878 · 28/06/2026 17:14

Of course most people give their best at all times. Some days my best is not as good as other days, because I’m tired, stressed, distracted by something else going on, but I NEVER choose to take my foot off the pedal. I do all that I absolutely can.

You are talking about CHOOSING to not give your all. That’s just not right, and YABVU.
Better to give up your job than half arse it.

This made me laugh a little, so thank you for that. The idea of resigning from my job and explaining to my organisation 'i felt I couldn't give 100% so I thought it best to do 0% instead'.

OP posts:
PatriciaRocks · 28/06/2026 17:16

Maomee · 28/06/2026 16:49

I actually feel quite guilty about it as I've never been a lazy worker, but it's a deliberate decision in the small chance it improves my chances. You hear all the time 'stressing will stop you conceiving', so why not see if avoiding stress where possible may help?

It's a bit of a myth. Women conceive and deliver healthy babies in all sorts of stressful situations - wars, refugee camps, during family upheavals etc. quitting work may just give you more of an opportunity to dwell on the negatives.
Also you are never going to eliminate stress from your life. The best you can do is try to find some medical answers, but there may be none, as you know 10 months isn't unusual.
I would suggest going for counselling to help you manage your responses and feelings. Then you will at least have a better outlook, and approach treatments with confidence - or who knows, conceive quickly!
I had unexplained infertility for 7 years before conceiving.

Maomee · 28/06/2026 17:15

Besafeeatcake · 28/06/2026 17:05

OP it sounds like you are deflecting. You
are trying to find reasons why after 10 months you haven’t conceived yet when frankly that is mostly likely just nature.

Be careful - you may quietly quit and still may not conceive.

I think you would do better to mentally shift yourself to these things can take time rather than finding things to blame. 10 months is normal in a lot of cases.

I find it quite surprising that stress is often cited as a problem in fertility yet when someone suggests reducing their stress in the ways they can everyone seems a bit outraged.

OP posts:
Livpool · 28/06/2026 17:15

I don’t see the issue with doing ‘quiet quitting’ to be honest. Sometimes in life something has to give, and for me it would be giving my ‘all’ at my job. I wouldn’t risk my relationship with DH, or anything to do with my son.

TTC is hard, and extremely stressful. I am one of those cliches who got pregnant once we were referred to an IVF clinic! I found out less than a week before my appointment and had to been drinking too much over Christmas.

Good luck OP

Swiftie1878 · 28/06/2026 17:14

Maomee · 28/06/2026 17:11

I think there's a difference between 'not doing something at all 'and 'not doing every thing to the best that you possibly can'. I would also disagree that most people do their best at all times, not only is it not humanly possible but most people reserve their energy and efforts for specific things.

Of course most people give their best at all times. Some days my best is not as good as other days, because I’m tired, stressed, distracted by something else going on, but I NEVER choose to take my foot off the pedal. I do all that I absolutely can.

You are talking about CHOOSING to not give your all. That’s just not right, and YABVU.
Better to give up your job than half arse it.

ABOOO · 28/06/2026 17:14

Maomee · 28/06/2026 17:08

For context, the bare minimum in my role is still really quite a lot. I'm just not pushing myself to give my best anymore. However I'm also going to spend that energy doing something for me, to help shift my focus a bit and hopefully just have more enjoyment to fall back on if I see further failed cycles.

For context, the bare minimum in my role is still really quite a lot.

Well of course it is.

There aren't many jobs where that wouldn't be the case!

Anyway, you had your mind firmly made up before you started the thread and nothing's changed since.

So I wish you luck.

Maomee · 28/06/2026 17:12

StacieBenson · 28/06/2026 17:03

I wasn't saying they were faster (although they obviously are). I was saying that they offer a wider range of tests that can reveal issues you will never know about if you stay with standard NHS testing. They are not ultrasounds, bloods, or standard sperm analyses. The NHS may never make you aware that these tests exist. These tests may be the difference between knowing what your issue is, and whether it can be treated, or being classed as "unexplained infertility", for which the treatment is to have IVF cycles on repeat in the hope one works. IVF may never work though if the underlying cause isn't addressed. Also not all fertility clinics are staffed by people working in the NHS. Know you've made up your mind but just adding this to the thread so other women reading this know that there are options out there.

Can you enlighten us to what these tests or conditions are that may be less common? I'm aware that things like untreated coeliac disease can cause infertility for example and I'm not sure if you mean that sort of thing or something specifically gynaecological.

OP posts:
Maomee · 28/06/2026 17:11

Swiftie1878 · 28/06/2026 17:08

Sorry but this is absolute bollocks. Most of us give our all in all facets of our lives. We don’t take on too much in order to do so.
There is no-one I’ve ever known who has had to stop giving their best at work in order to conceive. If you need to do that to conceive, how will you cope when you’ve actually got kids?! You’ll need to stop cooking, cleaning, LIVING in other to manage your stress levels?!

Ludicrous.

I think there's a difference between 'not doing something at all 'and 'not doing every thing to the best that you possibly can'. I would also disagree that most people do their best at all times, not only is it not humanly possible but most people reserve their energy and efforts for specific things.

OP posts:
Maomee · 28/06/2026 17:08

ABOOO · 28/06/2026 17:02

And you'll be letting your manager know why you're doing the bare minimum and why?

Or are you going to see if you get called in for a 1 to 1?

For context, the bare minimum in my role is still really quite a lot. I'm just not pushing myself to give my best anymore. However I'm also going to spend that energy doing something for me, to help shift my focus a bit and hopefully just have more enjoyment to fall back on if I see further failed cycles.

OP posts:
pilates · 28/06/2026 17:08

Sorry for your circumstances but I don’t think this is a good idea. Could you book an all inclusive holiday where you can ‘try’ solidly for two weeks without the stress of life and work.

Swiftie1878 · 28/06/2026 17:08

Maomee · 28/06/2026 16:27

I think most parents have to manage their energy levels and they know they can't be the perfect parent at all points, they do what be they can when they can and that's good enough.

Part of the problem is the culture of thinking you should give your all at work when the reality is none can give everything all the time If people have their own issues and they can reduce the effort they put in to help manage their energy and well-being they absolutely should.

Sorry but this is absolute bollocks. Most of us give our all in all facets of our lives. We don’t take on too much in order to do so.
There is no-one I’ve ever known who has had to stop giving their best at work in order to conceive. If you need to do that to conceive, how will you cope when you’ve actually got kids?! You’ll need to stop cooking, cleaning, LIVING in other to manage your stress levels?!

Ludicrous.

Besafeeatcake · 28/06/2026 17:05

Maomee · 28/06/2026 12:12

It's not that I can't cope, it's that I'm worried the energy I spend each week on work might be affecting my ability to conceive. Whether this is true or not it's reducing my motivation to work as hard as I usually do.

OP it sounds like you are deflecting. You
are trying to find reasons why after 10 months you haven’t conceived yet when frankly that is mostly likely just nature.

Be careful - you may quietly quit and still may not conceive.

I think you would do better to mentally shift yourself to these things can take time rather than finding things to blame. 10 months is normal in a lot of cases.

StacieBenson · 28/06/2026 17:03

Maomee · 28/06/2026 16:46

I appreciate your advice but I don't agree that private fertility clinics are necessarily better than the NHS, they may be faster but many of the consultants who work in them are also at local NHS trusts if you research theirs names. So I understand you may be seen faster but you also risk paying more when you could either get the same help a little later for free, or even risk paying for things you don't need because you've been convinced there's a problem when there may not be..

I've already had a TV US last year as I said in my OP. My past bloods (general) are all good except quite low ferritin (but as you may be aware they don't usually flag this as an issue), no deficiencies, only issue is one small fibroid which apparently should have little to no impact. I haven't done AMH but I'm sure I ovulate due to tracking. We are waiting for the SA to come back in the next week.

I wasn't saying they were faster (although they obviously are). I was saying that they offer a wider range of tests that can reveal issues you will never know about if you stay with standard NHS testing. They are not ultrasounds, bloods, or standard sperm analyses. The NHS may never make you aware that these tests exist. These tests may be the difference between knowing what your issue is, and whether it can be treated, or being classed as "unexplained infertility", for which the treatment is to have IVF cycles on repeat in the hope one works. IVF may never work though if the underlying cause isn't addressed. Also not all fertility clinics are staffed by people working in the NHS. Know you've made up your mind but just adding this to the thread so other women reading this know that there are options out there.

ABOOO · 28/06/2026 17:02

Maomee · 28/06/2026 16:49

I actually feel quite guilty about it as I've never been a lazy worker, but it's a deliberate decision in the small chance it improves my chances. You hear all the time 'stressing will stop you conceiving', so why not see if avoiding stress where possible may help?

And you'll be letting your manager know why you're doing the bare minimum and why?

Or are you going to see if you get called in for a 1 to 1?

Doctordoolittle · 28/06/2026 17:01

Maomee · 28/06/2026 16:46

I appreciate your advice but I don't agree that private fertility clinics are necessarily better than the NHS, they may be faster but many of the consultants who work in them are also at local NHS trusts if you research theirs names. So I understand you may be seen faster but you also risk paying more when you could either get the same help a little later for free, or even risk paying for things you don't need because you've been convinced there's a problem when there may not be..

I've already had a TV US last year as I said in my OP. My past bloods (general) are all good except quite low ferritin (but as you may be aware they don't usually flag this as an issue), no deficiencies, only issue is one small fibroid which apparently should have little to no impact. I haven't done AMH but I'm sure I ovulate due to tracking. We are waiting for the SA to come back in the next week.

As I said in my post- NHS and private fertility care isn’t the same.

Also waiting times CAN be crucial especially as we get older. Periods show you are currently right now likely ovulating, but don’t give you an estimate of how long this may be for in the same way that AMH can (and even better - an AFC on TV USS which you haven’t mentioned was done on your scan last year. A fertility specialist would definitely do this on a scan).

Maomee · 28/06/2026 16:57

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 28/06/2026 16:55

No, it's often very obvious.

Often very preposterous, more like.

OP posts:
WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 28/06/2026 16:55

Maomee · 28/06/2026 16:54

It must be incredible to be able to assess someone's core motivations from a few posts on a website forum...

No, it's often very obvious.

Maomee · 28/06/2026 16:54

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 28/06/2026 16:53

As I said, I don't believe you believe that.

It must be incredible to be able to assess someone's core motivations from a few posts on a website forum...

OP posts:
WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 28/06/2026 16:53

Maomee · 28/06/2026 16:49

I actually feel quite guilty about it as I've never been a lazy worker, but it's a deliberate decision in the small chance it improves my chances. You hear all the time 'stressing will stop you conceiving', so why not see if avoiding stress where possible may help?

As I said, I don't believe you believe that.

Maomee · 28/06/2026 16:49

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 28/06/2026 16:43

I don't think you really believe that work is preventing you getting pregnant. You just want an excuse to be lazy.

I actually feel quite guilty about it as I've never been a lazy worker, but it's a deliberate decision in the small chance it improves my chances. You hear all the time 'stressing will stop you conceiving', so why not see if avoiding stress where possible may help?

OP posts:
Maomee · 28/06/2026 16:48

GingerKombucha · 28/06/2026 16:40

There is no evidence that stress and anxiety has any impact on the success of TTC - I did serious reading into all available studies on this at one point. (Women get pregnant in war zones, when raped etc.) Read It Starts With the Egg - it's a good place to start when struggling to conceive.

Thank you,bi a really find this quite reassuring. I have seen this book recommended a lot on here and have had a little read into it already which has been interesting.

I think it's just quite a human thing to start searching for what might be holding you back, even if there's nothing and it's just bad luck.

OP posts:
Housebashing · 28/06/2026 16:47

Smolla · 28/06/2026 11:34

Wouldn’t it be better just to actually quit?

I did this while I undertook Ivf. I’ve never regretted that decision. Ivf was successful. I don’t think it would’ve been if I’ve stayed at work.

Maomee · 28/06/2026 16:46

StacieBenson · 28/06/2026 16:36

This. The fertility tests that finally revealed what was wrong with us were not available on the NHS and still aren't. Up to you OP but I would re-think this.

I appreciate your advice but I don't agree that private fertility clinics are necessarily better than the NHS, they may be faster but many of the consultants who work in them are also at local NHS trusts if you research theirs names. So I understand you may be seen faster but you also risk paying more when you could either get the same help a little later for free, or even risk paying for things you don't need because you've been convinced there's a problem when there may not be..

I've already had a TV US last year as I said in my OP. My past bloods (general) are all good except quite low ferritin (but as you may be aware they don't usually flag this as an issue), no deficiencies, only issue is one small fibroid which apparently should have little to no impact. I haven't done AMH but I'm sure I ovulate due to tracking. We are waiting for the SA to come back in the next week.

OP posts:
WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 28/06/2026 16:43

I don't think you really believe that work is preventing you getting pregnant. You just want an excuse to be lazy.

GingerKombucha · 28/06/2026 16:40

There is no evidence that stress and anxiety has any impact on the success of TTC - I did serious reading into all available studies on this at one point. (Women get pregnant in war zones, when raped etc.) Read It Starts With the Egg - it's a good place to start when struggling to conceive.