Supporting Surgeons to Have Families

Abstract

Surgical training often overlaps childbearing years. It is important that those considering a career in surgery know it is possible to combine a career in surgery with having children—and are supported to do so. With the changing demographic of the surgical workforce in the UK, it is increasingly common that surgeons are trying to combine surgical training and pregnancy, or indeed consultant posts and pregnancy. It is crucial that there is a culture within a surgical department and training programme whereby surgeons feel supported in their fertility, pregnancy journey, return to work, and childrearing. It is imperative that trainees feel comfortable asking for and are given adequate time off for fertility issues and early and mid-trimester pregnancy loss. Support systems should be in place to provide emotional and practical support to both female and male surgeons who experience fertility problems, pregnancy loss, and stillbirth, as well as those who are pregnant, returning to work following parental leave and balancing childrearing with a surgical career.