Working full time during IVF

Right now we're in the process of IUI #5 and I'm just stressed. I started crying in the doctor's office today because I have no idea when we're doing the IUI and I want to make sure DH & I can work it around our work schedules. I'd rather not skip this IUI and do TI because it would mean we'd lose another month towards our IUIs.

Anyway the doctor was telling me how during IVF you're at their office every day for about 2 weeks straight. She suggested I even take a leave of absence from work. I can't take off from work (at my job if I don't go in, I don't get paid: no personal or vacation days). I work at a school 9-5. My RE office opens at 6:30 so the latest I could leave is 8:15 from the office. I also have a part time job when I'm not teaching.

Is it possible to work full time and do an IVF cycle? This seems like just another added stress. It's not like IVF is cheap either- I need to work to pay what the insurance doesnt cover.

Can anyone offer any insight? Or even just hugs would be nice...I'm so stressed over this.

THANK YOU!! This board is so helpful and supportive.

Re: Working full time during IVF

I've never heard of anyone taking a leave of absence from work for IVF. My RE's monitoring hours are 7-8am. I work about 15 minutes from the RE. Last time I went in for monitoring hours I was at work, having already picked up breakfast, at 7:40am. You're usually in and out quickly. You go early because they need your test results back the same day.

Also, you're not there daily for 2 weeks straight. It starts about every 3 days, every 2 days, and then every day for the last stretch.

Out of curiosity, what practice is your RE at?

Re: Working full time during IVF

Re: Working full time during IVF

I worked straight through. I have to be in work at 7am, I would go to the dr at 6:30 and get monitored and go in a little late. If youre dr office opens at 6:30 even 7am, and you dont have to be in until 9 you should be fine.

Good luck!!!!


eta: In the beginning its like every 3 days or so. Its only at the end that youre there every day and by that point its not even two weeks, its more like 4-5 days and then the ER.

Message edited 1/20/2012 12:23:27 PM.

Re: Working full time during IVF

I just did IVF in December, my clinic was in manhattan, but they let me get monitored at rsony, so when I did monitoring there I went before work.

However once I got closer to my ER they wanted to personally see me. I was SO lucky this fell over my Christmas break (I had vacation and took the whole week), BUT I went 4 days in a row starting Christmas Day and I had 7am appts. So I would literally be home back in bed by 8:15am, and I was going to manhattan from li, I did this Christmas, the 26th, 27th, and the 28th was my ER.

I would have had to take off for the ER only if I had work. Then my transfer fell on the 2nd and my office was closed then anyway. So I would have missed 2 days of work, had my IVF fallen over a regular work week.

It is definitely possible! To me IVF was similar to an IUI schedule, just a few more monitorings. But I guess it depends on how you respond to the meds.

To me it really wasn't that bad or a big deal.

Good luck!!!

Re: Working full time during IVF

I worked full-time straight through IVF. I work in a preschool, and the people who needed to know that I was dealing with IF treatments knew, and were very supportive. I came in late or left early often, but it definitely wasn't daily for two weeks. It is very doable.

ETA: I took off for retrieval and transfer. I actually took two days from transfer, which is not necessary.

Message edited 1/20/2012 1:01:46 PM.

Re: Working full time during IVF

I haven't done it yet but my schedule will be cd 3 sono and bw. Then about a week later a sono. Then I'll go from there. I know with iui they would know if you needed to come back a day or 2 days later. I don't think it's every day. The did tell me my schedule would need to be flexible though. Like I'll have monitoring sono in 2/20 but they won't be able to tell me until 2/19 what time it will be. It's also an office where the dr does everything so scheduling is different.

I also told my manager who was luckily very understanding. So that helps. You can say you have a non life threatening med apt if you absolutely need to in case you need to switch hours.

You probably don't need time off though. I think the only bedrest day is ET.

Re: Working full time during IVF

i did IVF and worked full time. i did tell my bosses though because i work in the city and i knew i would need them to be flexible with coming in late and leaving early and time off for the ER/ET.

i did have to come in late a bit and i ended up taking off a few days after the ET because i was very bloated from OHSS. i took off one full day for the ER (but it was on a friday so it worked out great) and then i took off the day of the Et and the rest of the week (ET was a wednesday). as long as your job can be a little flexible theres no reason you need to take a leave of absence!! thats ridiculous!!

Re: Working full time during IVF

no experience or words -- just wanted to give you lots of hugs

Message edited 1/20/2012 1:27:31 PM.

Re: Working full time during IVF

Thank you everyone SO much. I really needed the reassurance. I was seriously having a breakdown in the doctor's office.

Re: Working full time during IVF

I dont know anyone who actually took off during IVF except for the retrival and transfer days.

If your Dr office is open at 630 am for monitoring then I would be there waiting at 630 for them to open and then you should be able to get to work early. I never had to wait for long for monitoring hours.

Re: Working full time during IVF

I just wanted to give you a and I hope that the monitoring can be done early enough where it wont interfere with you getting to work on time

Re: Working full time during IVF

I work full time and have done IVF while working. I took off the day of my retrieval, day of transfer, and the day after. Other than that I was in for monitoring at 7am at work by 730. Re is in Manhasset and work in Mineola. So no clue what they are talking about!!

Re: Working full time during IVF

I go to the same RE. They told me to keep working...it keeps me busy!

Re: Working full time during IVF

I worked full time during my ivf cycle. I only took the day of my retrieval and the day of my transfer off. On monitoring days I would try to get the earliest appointment and I would go to work late. I did apply for FMLA intermidiate leave which allowed me to come to work late and take off those two days without my job being able to say anything to me. I was surprised that I was approved but it may be worth a shot for you to see if you are approved.

Re: Working full time during IVF

I'm a teacher and did IVF (and 2 FET rounds) while working full time. It's not easy, but I made sure to be there quite early to be the first one to be seen and was out of the office by 7:15-7:20. I RUSHED to work and that was that. I did have to take a few days off from work for my retrieval and my transfer, but I got doctors notes (both without the IVF logo on them) so that was OK...

It's definitely doable!! Good luck!

Re: Working full time during IVF

Thinking about, and starting, IVF is always super stressful, but if you need to do it, you make it work and when you take it day by day, it becomes manageable.

I worked FT while undergoing two IVF cycles, the monitoring appointments are in the early AM and are usually very quick.

Good luck!!!!

Re: Working full time during IVF

I cant add anything that hasnt already been said... just try to relax because if you get to IVF, its very doable.
I work about an hour away from my RE. So I go in for monitoring at 630 and Im at work by 8 am on time every day. The only time I am taking off is for my retrieval and possibly my transfer. NOONE at work knows Im doing IF treatments.
Im actually kinda surprised that your dr suggested a LOA

Sorry that yoou were so upset at the drs office. Good luck to you and dh!!

Re: Working full time during IVF

Thank you everyone so much!!! I feel much better now