Why Getting Time Off Work for IVF Should Be the Next Big Workplace Revolution

Imagine this: You’re juggling a full-time job, endless meetings, and on top of it all, you’re undergoing IVF treatments. Exhausting, right?

Well, this is the reality for many women today, and yet, as Helen Coffey highlights in her eye-opening piece ‘Of course women should be allowed time off work for IVF’, workplace policies haven’t quite caught up with the emotional and physical toll fertility treatments demand.

So, why haven’t workplaces jumped on the bandwagon to support women through IVF yet?

Despite the government nudging us to have more children in response to declining birth rates, fertility barriers remain stubbornly high. Infertility struggles are deeply personal, often invisible battles — from hormone shots that make you feel like a science experiment to painful procedures and unpredictable side effects. Throw in the pressure of a 9-to-5 grind, and it’s no surprise that many women feel abandoned by the system.

Here’s the kicker: time off for IVF isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.

But what if you don’t want to—or can’t—go to clinics repeatedly?

Enter the game-changer: at-home insemination kits. If the thought of navigating clinical appointments is stressful (and costly!), then innovative solutions like the ones from MakeAMom are a breath of fresh air.

MakeAMom offers tailored, reusable at-home insemination kits designed around real-life challenges:

  • CryoBaby for low-volume or frozen sperm
  • Impregnator for low motility sperm
  • BabyMaker for those with sensitivities or conditions like vaginismus

What’s brilliant here is how these kits help individuals and couples sidestep some of the biggest barriers — cost, privacy concerns, and clinic accessibility — offering a 67% success rate on average. That’s right, high success, less hassle.

Could at-home solutions be part of the answer to workplace fertility support?

Think about it: if more people could manage parts of their fertility journey at home, the nightmare of demanding clinic schedules AND juggling work could be softened. Combined with progressive workplace policies granting time off for appointments or recovery, fertility care could become less intimidating and more inclusive.

So, what can you do about all this?

If you’re navigating fertility treatments, consider:

  • Advocating for fertility rights at your workplace: Policy change starts with conversations.
  • Exploring at-home insemination kits: They could be a flexible and cost-effective alternative.
  • Educating your employer: Share resources and articles like Helen Coffey’s to underline why support matters.

Let’s flip the script on fertility struggles.

The future should be one where women aren’t forced to choose between their dreams of parenthood and their paycheck. Where innovation meets empathy — with companies like MakeAMom leading the charge on accessible home-assisted conception.

To dive deeper into how these kits work and why they’re shaking up fertility care, check out this engaging guide to MakeAMom’s at-home insemination kits.

What’s your take? Should IVF and fertility treatments be recognized as valid reasons for paid leave? Have you used or considered at-home insemination kits? Drop a comment below—let’s start the conversation that workplaces and governments need to hear!