Navigating infertility treatments as a woman professional presents a perfect storm of stressors. It is emotionally, physically, and financially draining. There is no perfect time during your training or early career – which coincides with your ideal fertility window – to stop and have a baby. Thus, many women who desire children delay family building.
In light of this and other factors, the infertility rate has been climbing. As I discussed in other articles here and here, the rate is even higher among hard driving professionals.
At the same time, infertility is not something people like to talk about. It’s riddled with shame and silence for multiple reasons. I knew that I wanted to talk about it in my book Lean Out, and I knew I wanted to include the experiences of women other than just my own.
My most recent guest on the Lean Out Podcast, Shilpa Shahani, discusses how undergoing IVF treatments led to a major change in her career – and a major change in her previously-held identities. Our conversation extends far beyond infertility, and you’ll see why when you listen.
Shilpa is a woman who greatly values integrity. She did not feel she was taking care of her pediatric oncology patients with the utmost integrity while staying true to her own desires of wanting to build a family in the only way she is able. So she pivoted to a remote job in cancer research pharmacology, which afforded more flexibility in her schedule for IVF, family, and beyond.
Ironically, she feels she’s now serving her patients in a more profound way with her new job than she did at the bedside. Have a listen below to our conversation, and share your thoughts by leaving a comment!
If you want more information about infertility, check out my resource page here.
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