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If you’re a PhD student worried about your fertility, but also afraid of the professional consequences of starting a family while in school, I see you. No one seems to talk about this, but I think we should. Please rt to start a dialogue. 1/
I had an unconventional path to grad school, and that means I started ~5 years later than my peers. While I know grad students who decided to become pregnant in graduate school, and I admire them for making the choice that was right for them, they are a small minority. 2/
I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to graduate if I started a family during graduate school. I still am. But I was also worried about my fertility. And it seemed like I was the only one struggling with this, because no one talked about it. 3/
But I knew that couldn’t be true, and I’ve since discovered just how common the anxiety around this issue is. 4/
I made a friend who'd been through IVF, and that’s how I learned about the option that ended up being right for me. I’d heard of egg freezing before, but it seemed too complicated and mysterious. 5/
It didn’t seem like a practical option, I think in part because I didn’t know anyone irl who had done it. But through my friend, I was able to learn more about the process from someone I trusted. 6/
I had a fertility assessment, and based on the results, decided that it would be a good idea to do egg or embryo freezing. 7/
This is not the right answer for everyone. It's expensive, and most insurance doesn’t cover it--especially if you aren’t infertile. Loans are available, but it's a big risk because there is no guarantee of success. Egg and embryo banking aren’t fertility insurance. 8/
I’m happy with the decision that I made, but I’m not trying to convince anyone that this is the right decision for everyone. All I want to do is help to break down the barriers about talking about fertility concerns in grad school. 9/
I think that if we start talking about this, sharing our experiences and supporting each other, we can change the culture around parenthood in graduate school, and we can help each other arrive at the right decision for them. 10/
I’ve asked my university’s student health center to put information about fertility assessment and family planning options on their website, and they have agreed to do so. 11/
That’s it. If you are struggling with this and want to share, I’d love to hear about it. I would also be happy to share more details about my personal experience if you DM me. 12/12
Y'all... the realness of your conversation has me 
So many amazing people sharing beautiful and personal stories, struggles, triumphs 
So many amazing people sharing beautiful and personal stories, struggles, triumphs
