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Clare Mansfield: Fertility Treatment Doesn’t Stop When the Working Day Begins
Clare Mansfield/Facebook
Sep 7, 2026, 17:46

Clare Mansfield: Fertility Treatment Doesn’t Stop When the Working Day Begins

Clare Mansfield, CEO and Founder of Flowering Fertility, shared on LinkedIn:

“Fertility treatment doesn’t stop when the working day begins.

I felt privileged to represent Flowering Fertility yesterday at the ReproWork Stakeholders’ Event at School of Business Maynooth University -an important national conversation with international relevance about fertility support in the workplace.

The event brought together researchers, clinicians, counsellors, policymakers, employer and trade-union representatives, and people with lived experience. The range of perspectives created thoughtful, honest and much-needed conversations.

One of the key discussions was the need to distinguish fertility leave from sick leave.

People undergoing fertility treatment are not necessarily ‘sick,’ yet many must use sick leave or annual leave to attend scans, procedures and appointments-while also managing medication, uncertainty and a significant emotional burden.

In our breakout discussions, there was an important acknowledgement that the psychological impact does not simply disappear when treatment ends. Anxiety, grief and trauma can remain long after a fertility journey, whatever its outcome.

Too many people still experience stigma in the workplace or fear the consequences of fully disclosing what they are going through.

Meaningful change needs to happen at every level:

  • Culturally, through greater understanding and fertility awareness
  • Institutionally, through informed managers, flexibility and clear workplace policies
  • Legislatively, through appropriate recognition and protection

There was also real value in exploring how shared best practice could help employers translate awareness into consistent, compassionate and practical support.

Huge thanks to Professor Marian Crowley-Henry, Dr. Valentina Paolucci, Dr. Roisin McConnell and everyone involved in creating such an inclusive and thought-provoking event.

Thank you also to Marie Sherlock for sharing her insights and continuing to advocate for change.

It was wonderful to connect with so many people committed to improving fertility support, including Marian O Tuama of the Irish Fertility Counsellors Association, Katy McPartland of Sims IVF and the wider ReproWork community.

Fertility treatment is healthcare-and nobody should have to choose between protecting their privacy, protecting their career and accessing the care they need.”

Clare Mansfield: Fertility Treatment Doesn’t Stop When the Working Day Begins

Other articles featuring Clare Mansfield on Fertility News.

Clare Mansfield Fertility Fertility News Flowering Fertility Irish Fertility Counsellors Association IVF Katy McPartland Marian Crowley-Henry Marian O Tuama Marie Sherlock OBGYN reproductive health Reproductive Medicine ReproWork Stakeholders’ Event Roisin McConnell School of Business Maynooth University Sims IVF Valentina Paolucci Women’s Health
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