Managing fertility treatments can be difficult at the best of times. With the holidays approaching, you may have an extra worry about how to balance appointments with travel, and other activities and celebrations. Fortunately, with a little planning, you can enjoy the holidays and keep up with fertility treatments. 

Plan Early

Getting an early start on holiday plans means you also have plenty of time to iron out any modifications needed to ensure your fertility treatments continue without any interruptions. 

It’s a good idea to let your treatment team know well in advance if you plan to be away and how to best align your travel plans with treatment. Will you need to give yourself injections while you’re away? What’s the plan if problems arise while you’re out of town? If you’ve had a recent procedure or plan to have one close to your departure date, be sure to ask whether you need to wait a specific amount of time before traveling. 

Your team may also be able to give you some great advice about what to pack to stay comfortable and healthy. Whether it’s a heating pad and ibuprofen, or advice on how often  you should get up and walk during your flight, they likely have useful tips.. 

Know Your Clinic’s Schedule

Find out whether your clinic will be closed on certain days or hours around the holidays, and whether that means you’ll need to come in on different days than usual for your treatment. 

Halo Fertility will be observing the holidays and will inform patients of any needed schedule changes. Additionally, our IVF lab will be closed December 23, 2024 through January 1, 2025.

Know When to Seek Help

Before your clinic closes for the holidays, ask who’ll be on call if you experience any issues with your treatment. It’s also always wise to ask which symptoms are normal side effects and which are more concerning. That way, you know whether you really need to make a trip to the ER, or if it’s something that can be managed at home. 

For example, injection site soreness is a common side effect of fertility treatments, but it’s not usually a sign of a serious problem. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is less common, but a potentially more serious complication of some fertility treatments. You can generally manage injection site soreness at home, but you should seek immediate help if you are experiencing severe OHSS symptoms, such as breathing problems or pain in your legs. 

Make Arrangements for Traveling With Medication

If you need to take medications with you, make arrangements well in advance. Find out whether you need a doctor’s note to travel with a certain medication, and make sure it’s clearly labeled and packaged in accordance with any applicable rules. 

Any medication should always be packed in your carry-on luggage just in case your checked bags are lost. Medicine in checked bags can also be ruined by temperature extremes, so best to keep it with you..

Skip the Toasts

If you’re currently undergoing fertility treatments, it’s best to skip the toasts this year since drinking alcohol is correlated with lower IVF success rates. This is true for both men and women, so guys, you’re not off the hook on this one!

The other very good reason to abstain from alcohol during fertility treatments: fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). FASDs develop very early, often before you know you’re pregnant. That means if you drink alcohol and happen to conceive during the holidays, your baby could develop a FASD before you even get a positive pregnancy test. 

Prioritize Your Well-Being

The holidays often come with a lot of social expectations. Prioritizing your health and well-being should be at the top of your list, and it’s okay to say “no.”

Let your loved ones know if you’re not feeling up to traveling. Give yourself permission to cut out events to allow yourself more down time. And if you want to spend the holidays cozying up in your favorite chair with a comfy blanket, by all means, rock your staycation! 

The Halo Fertility Team wishes you the happiest of holiday seasons! If you’re planning on traveling, please let us know so we can assist you with navigating and keeping up with your treatments. And if you’re thinking about starting treatment in 2025, contact us to schedule a consultation in Los Angeles, CA or virtually.