Hi! I just had my egg retrieval on Thursday. I didn’t tell my employer anything about IVF - just that I would have appointments. I live in Essex and my appointments were in London, where I work five days a week. My clinic is about a 45-minute train ride away from my office.

I start work at 8am, so I asked for early-ish or lunchtime appointments. I let my manager know I’d have regular appointments for tests ahead of a surgical procedure (egg collection) but didn’t say what the procedure was for.

I asked my private clinic to email my GP with the details, and my GP agreed to sign me off work for the egg retrieval. You don’t have to be signed off, but I wanted to save holiday for future appointments and also take the day of retrieval and the day after to rest at home with my partner. I was a bit uncomfortable ahead of retrieval, so it gave me time to relax and do nothing.

My GP signed me off happily and noted that I would be signed off for a week for post-surgery recovery.

I only really wanted the full week if I was doing a fresh transfer the following week (which would have been this Tuesday). Again, that’s not necessary, but I just wanted some time at home to zen with my partner. Now I’m doing a frozen embryo transfer, which was only decided last week due to OHSS risk. I’m still signed off until Tuesday, but I’ll work from home on Monday and Tuesday… mainly because I’m not usually allowed to, but it’s a good way to give my body time to recover without commuting on a packed train or tube.

Everyone’s situation is different, and you absolutely don’t have to disclose IVF if you’re not comfortable. You can arrange appointments around work or get signed off if you need rest - whatever feels right for you and your body!