Addressing Infertility and Other Reproductive Outcomes Among Female Physicians

Abstract

Infertility affects one in four female physicians in the United States, yet the topic of fertility among female physicians is understudied and warrants focused strategies to implement change. Factors that exacerbate the rates of infertility in female physicians include intentional delays in family planning that are driven by the length of medical training and career advancements, age, long working hours, and physician burnout. While the effects of COVID-19 on reproductive health remain uncertain, the virus may have played a role in illuminating an already existing issue in women’s reproductive health. Burnout rates among female physicians have reached record highs contributing to reproductive disorders that warrant well-deserved attention to this issue. Initiatives should focus on fertility education in undergraduate medical education, organizational-level interventions, better insurance coverage for infertility treatments, and addressing burnout. Collaborative efforts between individuals, institutions and organizations are needed to prioritize reproductive health among female physicians.