HR Tool Kit for Leaders

Everything you need to know when supporting employees through their fertility journey

Do you know how fertility treatments and fertility benefits work and are you comfortable talking to your colleagues about it? This toolkit gives you all the facts, information and resources you need.

Contents:

1. The facts about fertility
2. Testing and Diagnosis
3. What is IVF and how does it work?
4. Other kinds of fertility treatment
5. Options for same sex couples
6. All about male infertility
7. Egg freezing and donation
8. Treatments for single parents
9. How a fertility benefit works

1. Arm yourself with the facts

61% of respondents expect their employer to cover the cost of their treatment, either in full or partially, but only 17% of UK employers currently offer this health benefit.

82% would only consider working for an employer that offered fertility benefits if they were looking to do IVF again.

One round of IVF costs one sixth the average household income of respondents (£31,400).

More than 1 in 3 (38%) had to take time off for IVF under annual leave.

Half (47%) didn’t tell friends/family about their IVF treatments, the biggest reason (52%) being shame and embarrassment.

50% said they found IVF just as, if not more, stressful than the bereavement of a close loved one, while 62% said it would be worse than losing their job

2. Testing and Diagnosis

Experts recommend checking your fertility if you have been trying to conceive for more than six months and you're over 35, or if you've been trying to conceive for more than 12 months and are under 35. Remember that infertility is not always down to the woman (see male infertility in section 7).

Click the links below for more details:

Female and male
Male and male
Female and female
Solo parents

3. What is IVF and how does it work?

The most well-known procedure to boost fertility is In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). With IVF, eggs and sperm are combined in a lab. Successfully fertilised embryos are transferred back into the woman's uterus to grow in the womb, and surplus embryos can be frozen for future cycles.

Read these useful blogs for more information on this life-changing procedure.

What are the 5 stages of IVF?
Understanding IVF Risks
What are the IVF success rates by age?
How long does IVF take from start to finish?

4. Other types of fertility treatment

While IVF is the best known method of treatment, it is not always the most suitable. A fertility clinic will create a personalised plan for each patient depending on their needs, which may include IVF or any of the following other methods:

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)

5. Fertility options for same sex couples

Infertility doesn't discriminate. If your company is committed to inclusivity, you will want to provide fertility care for everyone regardless of race, sexual orientation or gender identity. There is a range of inclusive benefits to support your LGBTQ+ employees, including:

Surrogacy for LGBTQIA+ people
Shared motherhood and reciprocal IVF
Fertility care for trans and non-binary people

6. All about male infertility

Infertility is often seen as a female problem, but male issues are the most common reasons for IVF in the UK, playing a role in 50% of cases. As well as sperm quality, men can play a pivotal emotional support role in an often stressful process.

Read this article to find out:

About male infertility and its causes
How to assess and improve sperm rates
How to access useful related resources
How to speak to an Apricity nurse

7. Egg freezing and donation

There are many options when it comes to those who need an egg donor or would like to preserve their own fertility until a later date. Examples vary and range from ‘social’ egg freezing (for those who are not ready to start a family yet) to people with endometriosis (a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places), to those undergoing cancer or hormone treatments. See the links below for more info.

Becoming an egg donor
How IVF with donor eggs works
Egg, sperm or embryo freezing

8. Options for single parents

The volume of information around solo pregnancy can feel daunting. The good news is that thanks to science, there are plenty of pathways available, regardless of your gender identity, relationship status and medical history. Treatments usually apply across profiles, including single women, two women in a relationship, and trans men.

There are several ways to get yourself pregnant without a man including IVF and IUI.

This handy guide explains all.

9. How a fertility benefit works

It’s now easier than ever to offer a comprehensive fertility benefit for your team. At Apricity we offer at-home testing and scans to minimise disruptions to work, and end-to-end advice and counselling.

Typically just 0.7 to 2% of a workforce uses the benefit at around £15K per treatment, so it is a cost-effective way to show that you care for the mental health and financial wellbeing of your staff.

HR Tool Kit for Leaders

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