Pregnancy challenges and outcomes among female physicians.

Abstract

Female physicians constitute an increasing proportion of the total physician workforce. Lengthy training often causes delays in family planning. When they feel ready and plan to have children, they might face demanding work hours, limited options for parental leave and child support, and potential stigmatization by peers and superiors. The impact of these factors on female physicians' fertility, pregnancy complications, professional growth, and perceptions of a career in medicine as a barrier to motherhood is not well-established. The goal of this study was to identify the main challenges and risk factors for pregnancy complications among U.S. female physicians.  Age, stress, adverse working conditions, occupational hazards, and insomnia were some of the main factors that can affect female physicians' fertility. A higher rate of infertility and older age at delivery were observed among female physicians working in surgical specialties. Being a physician is often associated with higher rates of infertility and pregnancy complications than the general population.   Although female physicians are increasing in number, they continue to encounter challenges in family planning and personal and professional life balance.  More research is needed to assess policy gaps, stigma, stereotypes, and risk factors, especially among different specialties. It becomes essential to develop effective strategies to adequately address these concerns and to offer equal and accessible reproductive care for female physicians.