Work & Wellbeing · 2 min
Fertility and your workplace
Top things to know
Fertility treatment brings appointments and emotional load for men too, not only for women.
In the UK there is no legal right to time off for fertility treatment for men.
You do not have to disclose treatment; a brief line about medical appointments is enough.
Compassionate leave, flexi-time or annual leave can cover appointments where policies allow.
How do you manage fertility treatment while working?
Fertility treatment can require appointments, time off for procedures, and emotional bandwidth that affects your working day. While much of the focus is on women's workplace needs during treatment, men also face practical and emotional challenges.
You may need time off for appointments, consultations with specialists, or to support your partner during procedures like egg collection or embryo transfer.
What are your workplace rights during fertility treatment?
Men going through fertility treatment often assume they have no standing to ask their employer for anything. In most places there is no automatic legal right to time off for fertility care, but that is not the whole picture. Many employers offer compassionate leave, flexible working, or specific fertility policies that go beyond the law, and an underlying medical condition can carry its own protections. Checking your own workplace policy, and asking in confidence, is the practical starting point wherever you are.
Should you tell your employer about fertility treatment?
This is a personal decision. You don't have to disclose that you're undergoing fertility treatment. But if you need flexibility for appointments, having a conversation with your manager or HR can help.
If you do choose to tell them, you can keep it brief: "I have some medical appointments coming up and may need some flexibility." You don't owe anyone details.
Which of these sound familiar?
Tap any. Private to you; only anonymous totals are ever counted.
How did this land with you?
If this helped, someone you know might need it too.
Reviewed by clinicians
Authored and reviewed by clinicians from the founding team. Information only, not personalised medical advice.
From the team behind Her Holistic Health, founded by Dr Divpreet Sacha, NHS-trained GP.