News | Delayed Childbearing Among Female Physicians Raises Concern: Balancing Career and Family
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that despite understanding age-related fertility decline, more than 75% of female physicians delayed having children, and some experienced infertility. The study examined how female physicians adjust their career paths for motherhood and why they delay pregnancy.
Using a questionnaire, researchers analyzed the relationship between reproductive and career choices among female physicians. Although women's representation in medicine continues to grow, substantial gender gaps in career advancement remain. Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) data show that women make up 43% of medical school faculty, but only 22% advance to department chair or dean.
More than 98% of participants were U.S. physicians from specialties including obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, and pediatrics. About 36.8% had experienced infertility, and more than half of those used in vitro fertilization (IVF). Over 75% said career pressure was an important reason for delaying childbearing.
Although most participants were relatively knowledgeable about fertility, nearly half wished they had started trying to conceive earlier. Balancing family responsibilities with work pressure remained a major challenge.
The researchers emphasized that health care institutions urgently need policies that better support physicians in building families. For example, a recent Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education rule requires sponsoring institutions to provide employees at least six weeks of paid parental leave, still below the 12 weeks recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The findings call on the medical community to reassess the relationship between career development and reproductive choices among female physicians and promote policy changes that support both career progress and a balanced family life.
News | Delayed Childbearing Among Female Physicians Raises Concern: Balancing Career and Family
News | Delayed Childbearing Among Female Physicians Raises Concern: Balancing Career and Family
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that despite understanding age-related fertility decline, more than 75% of female physicians delayed having children, and some experienced infertility. The study examined how female physicians adjust their career paths for motherhood and why they delay pregnancy.
Using a questionnaire, researchers analyzed the relationship between reproductive and career choices among female physicians. Although women's representation in medicine continues to grow, substantial gender gaps in career advancement remain. Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) data show that women make up 43% of medical school faculty, but only 22% advance to department chair or dean.
More than 98% of participants were U.S. physicians from specialties including obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, and pediatrics. About 36.8% had experienced infertility, and more than half of those used in vitro fertilization (IVF). Over 75% said career pressure was an important reason for delaying childbearing.
Although most participants were relatively knowledgeable about fertility, nearly half wished they had started trying to conceive earlier. Balancing family responsibilities with work pressure remained a major challenge.
The researchers emphasized that health care institutions urgently need policies that better support physicians in building families. For example, a recent Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education rule requires sponsoring institutions to provide employees at least six weeks of paid parental leave, still below the 12 weeks recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The findings call on the medical community to reassess the relationship between career development and reproductive choices among female physicians and promote policy changes that support both career progress and a balanced family life.
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