The parenthood journey in radiology: Challenges and opportunities

Abstract

The journey to parenthood is often delayed or prolonged for physicians, which disproportionately negatively impact women physicians. Women radiologists may delay childbearing for many reasons, which may lead to higher rates of regret and greater risks of infertility and pregnancy and postpartum complications. A better understanding of the resources and realities to achieve parenthood allows for more timely family planning while pursuing career advancements in radiology, particularly for medical students and our radiology trainees and early-career colleagues. Moreover, parents today are experiencing higher levels of stress and higher rates of isolation in the post-pandemic world, amounting to a public health crisis. Unreliable childcare is the top reason for women colleagues to exit the workforce. This article highlights many shared struggles of family planning and parenting, helps inform, prepare, and support our colleagues and trainees to make these significant personal choices, and aims to build communities and nurture connections among radiologist-parents and "villages."

Keywords: FMLA; Infertility; Parenthood; Pregnancy; Training; Women in radiology.