Women in Hand Surgery: Considerations and Support.

Hand surgeons and trainees face many challenges in pursuit of their professional and familial goals. The culture of the training programs must change to aknowledge and address the needs of women as they naviagate career and their childbearing years. Challenges to maternity and family planning dissuade and perhaps prohibit female trainees from choosing surgical specialties and of those who do, from reaching their full professional potential. In the following chapter we will review current data on infertility, obstetrical complications, breastfeeding, maternity leave, career advancement and childcare in an effort to increase support for female trainees and practicing female hand surgeons.