Time off work for treatment during COVID restrictions

[ICSI]

Hello!

I’m due to start our first round of NHS funded ICSI in the next two weeks and have just had a phone conversation with a nurse about the protocol for COVID testing.

She said I would need to be booked in for a COVID test 3 days before my baseline scan which would need to be on day 2-4 of my period. My cycles are irregular so very hard to pinpoint when it will be!

The first advice was that I should isolate from this point until egg collection, then I was advised that I didn’t need to isolate the whole time, but would need a COVID test before the monitoring scans which would be around 7 days later.

I really don’t want to take advantage at work but am also stressing that if I get a positive COVID test I will have to stop treatment and that will be our free round gone! I work in quite an exposed environment with lots of direct contact.

Is anyone else in a similar situation? What did you do about work?

Hi there !
I've just had ivf/ICSi treatment. They advised me to isolate the whole time but said it's not compulsory and can't make me but if I did catch covid they would cancel treatment at any point. They did various swabs throughout. I just ended up taking the whole time off! I've actually been off longer than planned because Ive been poorly with ohss. But that was classed as sickness not shielding. They put me down as isolating for about 4/5 weeks it was. I will add I work as a nurse in a hospital with covid patients so the risk was high and it wasn't one I was willing to take. I just thought if I get covid and it's cancelled just before egg collection or whatever would be a right nightmare. I didn't want to risk it personally. I do know covid is on the decrease now though so probably a bit safer but there's always a chance. I did have first vaccine in Jan but not had second yet as was due when treatment was. Good luck xx

@lottie198 thank you for sharing your experience. I’m sorry to hear you’ve had OHSS, hope you are feeling better!

If it wasn’t for COVID I think I would rather be in work to take my mind off things but I just don’t know if it’s worth the risk that our treatment will be cancelled.

To be honest - the infection rate is very low now and it's unreasonable to expect you (and your partner) to take 2 weeks or more off work unless you have a supportive boss and able to work from home.

I had treatment during the first lockdown - partner and I were just careful - no unnecessary trips etc.

I was advised to shield but they were unable to provide me with any documentation to advise that.so I’ve been working as normal out in community with full PPE, and tests weekly. Had first covid positive patient yesterday on caseload which has been first for a while I’ve seen. Luckily my manager knows and I was not allocated that patient. I’m now off for 2 weeks min for tww post transfer. Possibly have to work from home (which will be difficult) but apparently pregnant women under 28 weeks have to work from home (my nhs trust). I would say that most clinics can’t sign you off, it has to come from your GP. Good luck with everything xx

Thank you all for your responses!

@andivfmakes3 I feel like the risk is relatively low at the minute because of the infection rates dropping so low so the chance is so unlikely.

@JandL2020 that’s really good your managers are supportive. Would you have opted for time off during the TWW or during the stimming/ egg collection stage or is it more because of your trusts policy? I feel a bit in the dark about what’s to come and want to take the leave at the time I’ll really need it!

@ICSI I was lucky last year as was mostly working from home and my then manager was also very supportive. This time of round had a FET, and I only needed 2 days leave for scans (this was paid as the trust has 5 days leave ivf policy) I have taken 2 weeks off for tww and to be honest I’m quite tired now and grateful for time off. Xx

@ICSI I was advised to self isolate if I could but otherwise just to be sensible. We took the usual precautions and were Covid tested before I started medication and before egg collection. Fortunately I WFH although some of my team have started returning to the office but did keep my manager in the loop who was very understanding about time off for appointments etc. I found it best to be very upfront about what a positive Covid test could mean (we were self funding so could have lost £5k if we produced a positive test and treatment was stopped).

Numbers are fortunately low at the moment so hopefully the risk to you is minimal but whilst there’s still any possibility, I think it’s worth being upfront about the impact it could have on you personally beyond usual health issues.

Best of luck with it!

I’ve seen my manager now and have booked off the two weeks from start of treatment until egg transfer to hopefully avoid any risks from COVID. I hope I won’t go too mad stuck in for all that time!

I’ll still be working from home so will at least have something to be busy doing!