How Happy is Your Embryologist

The Fertility Podcast

In this episode we’re talking to some incredibly passionate people who absolutely love their jobs - meet the Embryologists and learn about the highs and lows of their work as we talk to 3 female and one male embryologist - in a field that is over 75% female. We hear from Alease Daniel, Victoria Wigley, Dani Smale, and Giles Palmer about what makes them happy and sad in their work.

What was discussed:

• Why Alease chose to share her work on social media to dispel the mystery about the lab and how it can empower patients
• How Labs can be understaffed and embryologists are undervalued and their opinions aren’t valued.
• Burnout but it’s still a job - they don’t want to be worked to death and the human aspect of the embryologist isn’t considered.
• Lack of training in delivering bad news
• How when Victoria was working as a lab manager meant she could spend more time with patients - not been able to do that previously, so didn’t have the opportunity to build rapport
• How she realized there was a gap in the info from the lab side - eg. lots of questions from patients about add-ons that make patients feel vulnerable
• The benefit of having someone impartial to go through them to make an informed decision to go back to the clinic and feel more in control
• WHow being an Emrbyologist is always a topic of conversation at dinner parties always fascinates people.
• How you go on the journey with patients so when it doesn’t work or they lose the baby, it’s heartbreaking
• Embryologists are scientists and aren’t trained in the emotional side
• Talks about a study of over 1k embryologists - looking at mental health and presented as a poster at Fertility 2022
• Job needs a lot of skills, as there is little automation.
• Need good hand and eye coordination
• Often work alone but often don’t do the whole cycle
• Can be very stressful
• Daily appraisal - why didn’t this person get pregnant
• Time Commitment - every weekend, on a rota, often on call - mission-critical equipment is on alarms
• Job changes all the time
• About 75% are female to male in embryology
• The embryology population is ageing out

This series of The Fertility Podcast is sponsored by TMRW

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Fertility Poddy

Kate

Alease Daniel

Victoria Wigley

Giles Palmer

IVF Initiative Webinars - https://ivfmeeting.com/