Pregnancy and Fertility Concerns: A Survey of United States Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents
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Pregnancy and Fertility Concerns: A Survey of United States Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents Kaia M. Schwartz1 · Caitlin E. Martin2 · Heather S. Hipp3 · Jennifer F. Kawwass3 Accepted: 4 November 2020 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Introduction Reproductive life planning is an important aspect of OBGYN resident education. Despite learning about declining fertility and the implications associated with delaying pregnancy, OBGYN residents overestimate the age when fertility declines and fertility treatment success rates. Objective To characterize attitudes towards infertility, pregnancy timing, and fertility preservation among OBGYN residents at academic programs in the United States. Methods Cross sectional study of female trainees from 27 academic OBGYN residency programs. A voluntary, anonymous online survey was used to assess reproductive experiences and characterize attitudes towards personal family planning and infertility. Results Of 756 trainees who were sent the survey, 487 opened the email, and 309 participated (63.4% response rate per opened email, 40.9% overall). The majority of residents expressed a desire to have children, but had not started childbearing (75.8%, n = 210) with a planned delay for career/educational reasons (84.5%, n = 196). The majority planned to have children before age 35 (90%, n = 210). Of those not finished with childbearing, 78.5% reported worrying about infertility (n = 205) and 40.8% reported considering fertility preservation (n = 111). If interested in fellowship, trainees were more worried about infertility (p = 0.01, OR 2.74 (95% CI 1.24 –6.04)). Conclusions for Practice Female OBGYN residents learn to help patients with reproductive planning and many may personally delay family building. To help alleviate anxiety, improve reproductive autonomy, and prevent future regret, OBGYN residents may benefit from counseling regarding declining fertility with age and the advantages and disadvantages of fertility preservation, specifically emphasizing the realistic chance of success with oocyte cryopreservation compared to conception at a young age. Keywords Cryopreservation · Fertility preservation · Infertility · OBGYN trainees · Pregnancy timing · Medical education Kaia M. Schwartz and Caitlin E. Martin are co-first authors.
Significance
Poster presentation at American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting, Austin, TX, April 27–30, 2018.
A. Why was this study conducted?
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-03027-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Caitlin E. Martin [email protected]
1
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation – Women’s Health Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
2
Present Address: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University of St. Louis, 4444
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