What to expect, when you expect. The neurosurgical perspective

Women in neurosurgery often have to delay pregnancy and child-rearing because the optimum time for having children overlap with an intense period of training and/or career advancement. The purpose of the study is to investigate the personal experiences of women neurosurgeons and understand the complex interaction between pursuing a career and embracing motherhood.

We employed anonymized, semi-structured interviews with women actively involved in the field of neurosurgery. Person-to-person interviews were performed online via video call. Responses were grouped and analyzed with thematic analysis. We identified recurring patterns and insights in the interview responses.

We included twenty-one women neurosurgeons, at various career levels. Thematic analysis revealed diverse perspectives. More than half favored a delayed pregnancy announcement. The majority perceived a workplace, social stigma attached to pregnancy. Although most of them reported adequate support from their colleagues, several explained that the support was theoretical rather than practical. Many interviewees expressed their fears about losing their surgical skills, while 57.2% had concerns regarding their physical abilities during or after pregnancy. All but one felt that female neurosurgeons should not postpone or sacrifice motherhood for their career. However, alternative paths within neurosurgery could be an option.

Finding a way to combine a career in neurosurgery with pregnancy can be very challenging and may be vital to keep attracting quality professionals to the field. Efforts should be made to maintain the balance between career and home and to facilitate greater flexibility at the workplace for women who are pregnant and/or child-rearing.