The path to becoming a physician is arduous, demanding years of dedication and financial investment. While the rigorous journey to a medical degree is well-acknowledged, the often-unspoken toll it takes on those desiring to start a family is now gaining attention.
Multiple studies have delved into this issue, revealing that female physicians face an elevated risk of fertility complications and pregnancy loss.
A survey conducted by the Journal of Women’s Health highlighted a startling statistic – 24% of female physicians attempting to conceive will receive a diagnosis of infertility. This rate is twice that of the general population.
Another study, led by Jama Surgery, surveyed 692 surgeons and uncovered that 42% of them had experienced miscarriages at some point in their lives, again nearly double the rate seen in the broader population.
Alexis Moren, a trauma surgeon and a member of the Association of Women Surgeons, shed light on these trends. She explained, “We work prolonged hours so sometimes, there’s a 40-hour work week, but in training, you’re working double that, sometimes even more.”
Becoming a practicing physician typically requires a decade or more of education, including medical school, residency, and fellowship training. Consequently, female physicians often complete their medical training at around the age of 31.
Moren, who also serves as the president of Out Surgeons and Allies, shared her personal journey and the challenges she and her partner encountered while trying to conceive. She emphasized the financial burden, explaining, “We had to pay out of pocket, and that was a struggle in itself. And if a physician is struggling, what about other people in the organization who may not be as fortunate to be doctors or nurses? What about the rest of the staff? So I have been a very big advocate since then about trying.”
