Pathways to Parenthood: Shared Challenges in Family Planning and Otolaryngology (AMW)
2021 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO Experience
Otolaryngology is a profession that requires years of intense training and practice which peak during family-planning years. Female otolaryngologists face difficulty balancing a busy surgical career with their potential desire to have children and often encounter multiple roadblocks. Women surgeons face double the infertility rates over the general population, report increased use of assisted reproductive technologies, and have higher rates of complications during pregnancy. Logistical obstacles further complicate the problem including lack of universal leave policy and expected strain on colleagues and department. In a survey of WIO members, 44% believe their department leaders are not supportive of women starting families during training. All these factors may explain why women surgeons are older at time of first birth and have fewer children when compared to the average American woman. The consequences of delaying childbirth can be life altering for many women, their babies, and their families. This presentation will bring to light the challenges that women otolaryngologists face with fertility and family planning. The panel features three women who will share their experiences, reflect on their decisions, and provide practical suggestions for how they balance parenthood with their career. The panel will highlight findings from a recent survey of women AAO-HNS members on pregnancy and fertility and comment on the American Board of Medical Specialties’ announcement to offer six weeks of protected parental leave during residency, which will go into effect July 2021. We invite women and men in otolaryngology, in all practice types and settings, including trainees, program directors, leaders, and allies to be part of this important discussion on how we can eliminate the real and perceived barriers to parenthood to create a supportive environment.
Credits
CME:1.0, MOC:1.0