AUTHOR=Kevric Jasmina , Suter Katherine , Hodgson Russell , Chew Grace 

TITLE=A survey of Australian and New Zealand medical parents' experiences of infertility, pregnancy, and parenthood

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.943112

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2022.943112

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objective</title><p>To describe the incidence of infertility, pregnancy complications, and breastfeeding practices among Australian and New Zealand doctors and identify factors associated with increased pregnancy complication rates.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>A survey of ANZ doctors using an online questionnaire during November 2021.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>One thousand ninety-nine completed responses were received. The median age of female doctors at the time of their first child was 32.4. Fertility testing was undertaken by 37%, with 27% having <italic>in vitro</italic> fertilization. More than 60% of respondents delayed family planning due to work. Pregnancy loss occurred in 36% of respondents, and 50% suffered a pregnancy complication. There were significant differences between specialists, with surgeons working longer hours before and after pregnancy, but having greater access to maternity leave than general practitioners.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Female doctors delay starting and completing their family due to work-related demands and structural biases in career progression, which may result in higher infertility and pregnancy complication rates.</p></sec>