IVF discrimination is costing women their jobs - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Health IVF discrimination is forcing women out of jobs according to an MP By Sophie Hines - May 11, 2022 Anyone who has experienced IVF, either directly or through friends and family, will know it can be a gruelling process to go through. As well as having to endure the emotional and physical turmoil of fertility treatment, some women are also losing their jobs as a result of time off for appointments, says one Tory MP. Nickie Aiken is asking for new workplace legal protections for women undergoing IVF. This would make it illegal for bosses to fire or sideline female staff who are trying to get pregnant via IVF, and introduce a legal right to have time off for fertility-related medical appointments. Getty Speaking to Times Radio, Aiken said, ‘Women are facing discrimination at work and even being forced out of their jobs because they haven’t got rights to take IVF treatment currently. ‘I’ve had numerous women tell me they’ve been either sidelined or sacked’ she added. Around 50,000 women undergo IVF every year, according to The Times, and many of these will require more than one cycle. Aiken said that currently, many women feel forced to ‘hide’ the fact they are taking time off for appointments, which she warned could add ‘to the stress that may lead to unsuccessful treatment’ Getty Aiken also said she had seen queues of women waiting for early morning appointments on Harley Street, so they wouldn’t have to take time off work for fertility treatment. These early morning and weekend appointments, according to Aiken, ‘cost a premium’. ‘It’s now come to the time that we’ve got to recognise IVF as a very, very important part of reproduction’ she said. ‘We’ve got an awful birth rate here in this country. We need to keep giving birth to children so that in 30 years time, they will be paying taxes, they will be our workers of the future. ‘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.’ It’s understood that the MP will attempt to bring forward a private member’s bill about IVF discrimination during the next parliamentary session. READ MORE: The biggest IVF myths RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Everything we know about The Crown season 5 Aldi s exercise equipment is on sale with up to 50% off The best Halloween events for 2022 across the UK Popular in Health Davina McCall discusses how men can help women going through the October 7, 2022 Experts say this is the Covid symptom you need to look October 7, 2022 Women are more creative when they ovulate according to a new August 17, 2022 Amazon is selling a Fitbit-inspired fitness tracker for £18 – and August 16, 2022 Nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert answers your questions on food and health August 4, 2022 Celebrity fitness tips that are useful for everyone August 4, 2022 The SEAT diet Is this the simplest weight-loss plan ever July 31, 2022 A third of women hide period troubles from their partner July 28, 2022 Laura Kenny has opened up about her miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy July 26, 2022 Sexist NHS targeted by overhaul of doctor training July 20, 2022 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved