Childbearing Among Women Cardiologists: The Interface of Experience, Impact, and the Law

Abstract

Background: Maternity leave is highly variable in the United States given the lack of a federal workforce mandate.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences and impact of childbearing on women cardiologists and their careers, within a legal framework.

Methods: A survey was sent to women cardiologists, asking about their experiences while pregnant and on maternity leave. The incidence of complications and career impacts on the cardiologists was assessed.

Results: Of 323 respondents who had been pregnant as a practicing cardiologist, extra service or call before maternity leave was required in 37.2%. Of those who performed extra service or call, 17.5% were placed on bedrest before delivery, compared with 7.4% who did not perform extra service or call (P = 0.005). During the year of pregnancy, 41.2% experienced a salary decrease; only 7.4% had their relative value units prorated for time on maternity leave; 23.2% had no paid maternity leave. Self-reported pregnancy complications occurred in 36.5%, those with complications had a 60% greater chance of reporting that pregnancy adversely affected their career, compared with those without complications. Nearly three-fourths (237 respondents) reported experiencing at least one of several troubling practices that are illegal in many circumstances.

Conclusions: Women cardiologists report wide variances in maternity leave in the United States, with many experiencing likely violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act or other statues. Childbearing issues in cardiologists should be addressed to improve the professional and personal lives of women cardiologists and the attractiveness of cardiology to potential trainees.

Keywords: Family Medical Leave Act; childbearing; discrimination; pregnancy; pregnancy leave; women in cardiology; workforce.