Supporting Your Partner Through IVF: A Guide for Husbands

IVF can feel like it's happening to one person. She has the injections, the scans and the procedures. But it's a journey for both of you, and the way a partner shows up can make the hardest days easier to carry.

At a glance

• Men going through IVF with a partner often say they feel left out, as if their only role is to pay and give a sample.¹
• Many also feel stress and worry, but find it hard to talk about. Some couples stop sharing how they feel to protect each other.^1,2
• Couples who go through treatment together often say it brings them closer.¹
• Going to appointments together can help. So can counselling, which you can ask your clinic about before, during or after treatment.^2,3

Small things that make a big difference

You can't take the injections for her, but you can be there. Hold her hand at appointments. Learn what each step is for and ask questions. Be patient on the days the hormones are hard. Say how you're feeling too, because it's your journey as well.

IVF Husbands, Your Support Matters

▶ Watch: Henry has a message for every IVF husband about what real support looks like during treatment.

Sources & Further Reading

[1] Zaake D, Kayiira A, Namagembe I. Perceptions, expectations and challenges among men during in vitro fertilization treatment in a low resource setting: a qualitative study. Fertility Research and Practice, 2019;5:6. doi:10.1186/s40738-019-0058-8 Licence: CC BY 4.0. ↩

[2] Peterson SK, Mayo-Wilson LJ, Spigel L, Morgan I, Parker A. Health care experiences of individuals accessing or undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the U.S.: a narrative review of qualitative studies. Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 2025;7:1490917. doi:10.3389/frph.2025.1490917 Licence: CC BY 4.0. ↩

[3] NHS. IVF: Support during and after IVF. Read the NHS IVF page Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. ↩