only begin after implantation has already taken place, which means that many women undertaking IVF feel forced to “hide” it from their employers, potentially adding to “the stress that may lead to unsuccessful treatment.”
She added that “queues of women” attended appointments “before work” on Harley Street, in her constituency, because “they don’t want to take any time off.” These appointments can “cost a premium because you’re going outside your office hours,” placing an “extra financial burden on the couple” seeking treatment, she said.
Aiken also highlighted the misconceptions around IVF, saying that many people perceive it as a “lifestyle choice” for older women who've waited too long before trying to start a family. She explained, “It’s now come to the time that we’ve got to recognise IVF as a very, very important part of reproduction . . . We’ve got an awful birth rate here in this country.
“And therefore we do need to support men and women going through IVF and give them the employment rights that they need and they deserve."