Starting Fertility Treatments While Working Time
After a year and a half of trying, my husband and I finally decided to make an appointment with a fertility clinic. Both of us work, so we cleared our schedules for phone calls and in-person appointments. At first, it felt exciting—like starting treatment would bring us one step closer to growing our family.
You don’t have to carry this alone.
If you’re navigating secondary infertility, I created 5 gentle, free journal prompts to help you process your emotions and find a moment of calm in your TTC journey.
This is a typeable PDF, so you can write directly in it—no printing needed.
👉 Download your free journal prompts here.
My Daily Routine Before Fertility Treatments
Even before starting fertility treatments, our days were already full. As a substitute teacher, I wake up early to get my daughter ready for school—helping her pick out clothes, fixing her hair, and preparing breakfast.
Before having my daughter, I was a full-time teacher. After she was born, I chose to continue teaching part-time as a substitute because of the flexibility. I can work when I want, and if I have an appointment, I don’t have to accept a subbing job. At the time, I thought this flexibility would be perfect for fertility treatments—I could go to appointments whenever I needed.
What to Expect During Fertility Appointments
After our initial phone calls with the clinic, my husband and I went in for testing to check for any “easy” fixes. For my age, my egg count was above average. Ultrasounds showed a thick uterine lining, blood tests were normal, and my fallopian tubes were clear.
On my husband’s end, the sperm test showed low motility, meaning some of his sperm weren’t great swimmers—they weren’t reaching the egg effectively.
At first, getting these results felt like progress. Finally, we had answers. With guidance from our doctor, we decided to try intrauterine insemination (IUI). During an IUI, sperm is “washed” so that only the healthiest swimmers are placed directly into the uterus during ovulation.
Challenges of Balancing Fertility Treatments and Work
As a substitute teacher, I could technically schedule appointments without conflict. But that flexibility came with drawbacks. I don’t get paid on the days I don’t work, and most of my appointments were in the morning during rush hour, often on the opposite side of the city. After appointments around 9 a.m., it was too late to accept a subbing job, meaning a full day without pay. As a sub, I already make less than half of what I earned when I was teaching full-time.
When we started our first round of IUI, I didn’t realize how many appointments would be involved. I needed frequent ultrasounds to track egg development and determine when to start giving myself shots—Gonal-F to help develop multiple eggs and Ovidrel to trigger ovulation.
Our first IUI wasn’t successful, so we decided to try a second round. We were hopeful—after all, even “natural” conception isn’t guaranteed. But the same challenges persisted: driving through traffic, missing work, and not earning money. Our second IUI also wasn’t successful.
Emotional and Physical Impact of Fertility Treatments
By the end of that second round, we had been trying for over two years. I was physically and emotionally drained—and honestly, kind of over it.
Emotionally, I would start each IUI cycle feeling excited and hopeful. But as the two-week wait came to an end, I’d notice my usual symptoms—sore boobs, pink discharge, heightened sense of smell, nausea—that meant my period was coming. I’d try to convince myself these were early pregnancy signs, but I know my body. Deep down, I knew what was coming.
Physically, I was exhausted. Tired of driving through morning traffic. Tired of not getting paid on appointment days. Tired of giving myself shots. And tired of sneaking off to a quiet room during family gatherings to inject medication—we started our second round of IUI during the winter holidays.
After that, my husband and I decided that if we pursued any future treatments—whether another round of IUI or IVF—it would have to be during school breaks so I could better balance work and treatment.
Practical Strategies for Managing Work, Parenting, and Fertility
If you’re thinking about fertility treatments, a few practical things helped me:
- Plan for travel time. Traffic isn’t fun, especially when you’re juggling multiple appointments each week.
- Consider your work schedule. If you work remotely or in an office, half-days might be easier—but commuting can still be draining.
- Use flexibility wisely. Being a substitute allowed me to attend appointments, but it also meant losing income.
Final Thoughts: You’re Not Failing—Fertility Treatments Are Hard
I don’t know if I’ll do another round of IUI, and I still wonder about IVF. I don’t know all the specifics, but I do know it’s a much more involved process.
What I do know is this: managing fertility treatments while working is not easy. But with planning, realistic expectations, and a supportive partner, it is possible.
If you’re trying to juggle work, parenting, and fertility treatments, and feeling stretched thin—you’re not failing. This is just hard.
If you’re walking through secondary infertility and need a quiet space to process it all, these prompts are for you.
Download 5 free, typeable journal prompts designed to help you reflect, release, and find a little calm—one page at a time.
👉 Download your free prompts here.
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