For all those who don't want to compromise on either their career or their life.
On March 7, 2025, approximately 70 people who were thinking about their careers and future pregnancies participated in an online event entitled "Knowing Now Will Change Your Future: Egg Count Test (AMH Test) You Should Know Now," co-hosted by the Trading Company Workers' Union, the Employees' Union, and BeLiebe Inc., the operator of "EggU."
The AMH test is a test to determine ovarian reserve, which is also known as "one factor in fertility (the ability to become pregnant)." This seminar provided an opportunity to consider why it is important to know this now in terms of career development and life plan planning.
"Uncertainty" can be changed by "knowing"
"I love my job, but when is the best time to have children?"
"I want to have children someday, but I don't know what to do."
Most of the participants were women in their 20s to 40s , many of whom were anxious about future pregnancies and worried about how to reconcile this with their future careers .
Some participants were men or managers who said, "I want to gain knowledge for my partner or daughter," or "I want to be able to respond to my subordinates' concerns."
Regardless of gender or position, many people saw this as something that "applied to them ." Shiga spoke candidly about the "real doubts" she has experienced as a working woman and as a human being.
"I love my job and I want to build my career. But I don't know when is the right time to get pregnant and give birth."
Amidst this conflict, she says that discovering the AMH test became a major catalyst for her to reexamine her life.
Balancing career with pregnancy and childbirth
During the webinar, Shiga spoke about the basics of AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) testing and the impact the test can have on future life plans, including sharing his own experiences.
Many participants expressed sympathy for the issue, as they were worried about how to balance work with pregnancy and childbirth .
The message conveyed was that pregnancy and childbirth are not a woman's personal issues, but are part of her "life planning," which includes dialogue with her partner and those around her .
Choosing the future starts with "knowing first"
During the Q&A session, specific questions were asked, such as "Can I take the AMH test while taking the pill?" and "Does my partner also need to be tested?" In response to these questions, Ms. Nakamura carefully explained the information, not only based on scientific information, but also on her own experience and what she learned from experts.
In response to questions about egg freezing, I explained that there are both advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to first gather information and consider your own situation before making a decision.
In response to the question, "How often should I get tested?", I explained that it is recommended to get tested at milestones such as changes in life stage or career stage. Therefore, it is important to get tested regularly to know changes in your body and consult with a specialist if necessary.
A positive step towards a "choosable future." An opportunity to face your own body and future.
After the event, participants seemed to have a more positive outlook on their own choices.
In the survey after the event,
"It was helpful to learn about specific actions to take after the test."
"I was relieved to learn at the seminar about things I couldn't even talk about with my close friends."
"I was able to think of egg freezing and AMH testing as a choice for my own life, rather than something that only happens to other people."
Through this event, many people changed their mindset from "pregnancy and childbirth are still a long way off" to "it's an option that is an extension of who I am now ."
Participating companies also provided positive comments, such as , "We want to support employees in balancing their careers and life plans," and "Companies are being asked to create an environment where employees can think about their lives with peace of mind."
"I myself was once worried about the timing of pregnancy and childbirth, but taking the AMH test gave me a clearer idea of what I should do now and made it easier to plan my life. I wanted to use that experience to inform members and partners who have similar concerns, so I co-hosted this seminar with other trading companies.
The online lunchtime seminar format, which invited anonymous opinions, allowed for very lively discussions. Although the topic of "timing pregnancy and childbirth for career women" is an important one, there are still very few opportunities to seek advice. This seminar, which combined real-life examples with the knowledge of experts , was a very meaningful experience for the participants.
Aki Okuyama, Head of the Itochu Corporation Labor Union
"While the ratio of female employees is increasing, we have heard many voices expressing concern about balancing careers with life events . As a general trading company, there are a variety of career possibilities, including overseas postings, and that is why we introduced this seminar as a union to provide support that allows employees to make choices that they are satisfied with .
"The actual seminar reminded me that pregnancy and childbirth are not just women's issues . There were many male participants, and a change in awareness has occurred regardless of gender , which I feel has helped to create a comfortable and understanding workplace ."
Ms. Rei Morita, Secretary General of the Marubeni Employees Union
"We decided to introduce the AMH test because we thought that for many of our members who are in their 20s and 30s and are at a time when they are torn between their careers and their personal lives, just knowing about it would be a big turning point for them. We put out information about the test with the intention of making it known not only to women who are directly affected, but also to men .
At the seminar, participants were able to learn basic knowledge about changes in egg count and AMH testing through the instructor's personal experiences, and it seems that many participants were interested in actually undergoing the test . Although it is a sensitive topic, I feel that any company could implement it if it was held anonymously and online .
Haruka Yasuda, Secretary General of the Mitsubishi Corporation Employees Union
BeLiebe will help you plan your life in a way that suits you
BeLiebe will continue to work with companies and organizations to provide accurate information about careers and pregnancy and childbirth.
Because pregnancy and childbirth are sensitive topics, we provide a place where people can talk about them in peace, and we believe that ``learning'' can be a positive step for someone .
Make the choice to face your body now, for the sake of "someday in the future."
BeLiebe will continue to support you in your future.