Partner support
Understanding What a Partner Is Going Through
Fertility treatment affects everyone in the relationship, not only the person undergoing procedures.
Partners, of any gender and in any family structure, often carry a load that is invisible at work and rarely supported.
Published 12 April 2026
3 numbers
What the Research Shows
1 in 6
people are affected by infertility at some point in their lives
WHO, 2023
50%
of partners report significant psychological distress during treatment
Lyubykh et al., 2025
29%
of people who had fertility treatment used sick leave for it
Totaljobs with the Fawcett Society, Paths to Parenthood, 2023
The pattern
Why Do Partners Struggle to Get Support at Work?
Research describes a recurring pattern: partners often feel they should "stay strong" and put their own distress aside.
In practice this means many are less likely to seek support.
They are also less likely to talk to a manager, or ask about workplace adjustments, even when those would help.
This applies across genders and family structures, though the social pressures can look different depending on context.
For some families there can be additional layers around disclosure, legal parentage, and social recognition.
This includes same-sex couples, solo parents using a partner-equivalent supporter, and those using surrogacy or donor pathways.
5 signs
Signs to Recognise
- Emotional WithdrawalPartners may suppress their own distress to 'stay strong', leading to emotional disconnection and burnout.
- Cyclical Stress PatternsMood changes that align with treatment cycles: heightened anxiety around egg collection or result days, followed by periods of numbness.
- PresenteeismPhysically present at work but cognitively absent. Difficulty concentrating, increased errors, reduced decision-making capacity.
- Sleep DisruptionHypervigilance about the partner's wellbeing, combined with treatment-related anxiety, often disrupts sleep quality.
- Social IsolationAvoiding colleagues who are pregnant or have young children. Withdrawing from social events that might trigger difficult conversations.
At work
Workplace Adjustments for Partners
Adjustments That Help
- Flexible time off for clinic appointments (partners attend 40–60% of appointments)
- Understanding that focus may vary during key treatment milestones
- Access to EAP or counselling services without requiring disclosure
- Reduced travel or on-call during acute treatment phases
- Permission to step away from baby-related workplace events without explanation
For managers
A Note for Managers
A team member may disclose that their partner is undergoing fertility treatment. If so, treat this with the same sensitivity you would any other medical disclosure.
The employee may need:
- Short-notice time off for emergency procedures or complications
- Emotional support without requiring clinical details
- Reassurance that their performance is not being judged during this period
- Confidentiality, even from well-meaning colleagues
In the toolkit
Supporting a Partner Through Treatment?
OccuFertility includes a dedicated partner support mode with tailored workplace adjustment tools and line manager briefs.
Not a medical device. This platform provides structured information and evidence-based reference material to support conversations between employees, their GPs, and their employers.
It does not constitute clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Clinical decision-making rests entirely with the treating clinician.
Not a medical device or SaMD. An information resource aligned with the NICE Evidence Standards Framework for digital health.
CSO safety framework completed and available on request.