Vacations and business trips become a low priority. Schedules are altered to accommodate the demands of the testing cycles. Many women find it hard to take off from work, especially if they don't want it known that they are undergoing an infertility evaluation. Obviously, it can be a very stressful time. Women often feel frightened and violated by some of the more invasive fertility tests.
Men often feel helpless.
For the man, testing is over if the semen analysis is normal. In contrast, he may see his partner having to go through various tests that can be painful and scary. This can understandably upset both partners. Added to this uncertainty is the pervasive fear of what the doctors may find. Needless to say, the decision to initiate a fertility evaluation is not a simple or easy one.