title: Fertility and Childbearing Among American Female Physicians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Female physicians may experience unique challenges regarding fertility and family planning. We sought to determine childbearing patterns and decision-making among American female physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2012-2013, we surveyed a random sample of 600 female physicians who graduated medical school between 1995 and 2000. Primary outcome measures included fertility and childbearing history, reflections regarding decision-making, perceptions of workplace support, and estimations of childbearing potential.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rate was 54.5% (327/600). A majority (82.0%) of the sample were parents, 77.4% had biological children with an average of 2.3 children. Average age at medical school graduation was 27.5 years, at completion of training (completion of medical school, residency, and/or fellowship) was 31.6 years, and at first pregnancy was 30.4 years. Nearly one quarter (24.1%) of respondents who had attempted conception were diagnosed with infertility, with an average age at diagnosis of 33.7 years. Among those with infertility, 29.3% reported diminished ovarian reserve. When asked what they would do differently in retrospect, most respondents (56.8%) would do nothing differently regarding fertility/conception/childbearing, 28.6% would have attempted conception earlier, 17.1% would have gone into a different specialty, and 7.0% would have used cryopreservation to extend fertility. Fewer of those whose first pregnancy was in medical school perceived substantial workplace support (68.2%) than those whose first pregnancies followed training (88.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial proportion of female physicians have faced infertility or have regrets about family planning decisions and career decision-making. Combining a medical career with motherhood continues to pose challenges, meriting further investigation and targeted support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Natalie Clark
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Stentz
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Kent A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Rochelle DeCastro
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Reshma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jagsi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D043762:Reproductive Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D017132:Workplace
keywords: childbearing; conception; family planning; female physicians; infertility; motherhood