timelines

Establishing a timeline is a good first step when beginning infertility treatment. You should consider how many treatment cycles you are willing to try and/or how many you can afford. It helps if you openly share feelings and opinions with your partner and approach infertility as a team. Treatment decisions are much easier when made by partners who are committed to the same goals.

Timelines and the path you and your partner choose to take depend on your unique circumstances. Other people may offer advice and opinions, but only you can decide the treatment timeline that will work for you. Keep in mind that a timeline is not written in stone and it may change as information is gathered during evaluation and treatment.

first steps

When constructing a timeline, ask yourselves these questions:

• How do we feel about infertility treatment?
• How does the treatment mesh with our spiritual and moral beliefs?
• Will we pursue more than one treatment option simultaneously?
• How far in the process will we go?
• What are our financial constraints?
• What kind of support system do we have?

next steps

To help make educated decisions, you should ask a fertility specialist these questions:

• What is the recommended number of cycles for each treatment option that is being considered?
• What length of time, if any, is there from one treatment cycle to the next?
• How does age affect our timeline?
• What are the chances of getting pregnant with each treatment option?
• How much will it cost to pursue this treatment option?
• What are the benefits and risks associated with each treatment option?

tips for managing your treatment schedule

A little planning will help you fit infertility treatment into your lifestyle. Here are some tips to make treatment combine with your other responsibilities:

• Keep working. You may be tempted to walk away from the time pressures and stress of work to concentrate on getting pregnant. However, your career can give you something to focus on other than your fertility challenge, and provide you with a sense of accomplishment.
• Make treatment a priority. Plan ahead and try not to schedule big meetings or trips during your treatment cycle. Explain your work situation to your doctor's staff and ask if they can be flexible with appointments.
• Talk with your boss or supervisor. If you feel comfortable, meet with your boss and discuss your treatment schedule and any possible changes you may have to make to accommodate it. Offer to come in early or stay late to meet deadlines.
• Share with a friend. Talk with a close friend or two about your situation. They may be able to provide an important support system during treatment.
• Find ways to reduce stress. Coping with job stress and the emotional toll of infertility treatment can be doubly difficult. Be sure to get regular exercise and maintain a healthy diet. Get a massage or plan a getaway weekend with your partner.

There will be doctor's appointments, phone calls and diagnostic tests to schedule. Some procedures may even require you to be at the doctor's office several mornings a week for monitoring. Planning ahead and setting your priorities, while remaining flexible, can help ease the stress associated with this substantial time commitment.