Physician infertility: a structured literature review.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Reproductive Health
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Physician infertility rates are rising, linked to demanding work schedules, environmental exposures, and extended training periods.
• Delayed family planning among physicians contributes to the growing concern of infertility within the medical community.
• Increased awareness and advocacy highlight the need for institutional support regarding physician infertility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To aggregate and assess current data on physician infertility.
• To identify research gaps in the literature concerning physician family planning.
• To explore the role of infertility in physician family planning, including comparisons between male and female physicians and surgeons.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology was employed.
• Data from 56 articles on physician infertility were compiled and synthesized.
• The review analyzed aspects of physician family planning, reproductive technologies, and proposed solutions.

Main Results:

• The review synthesized data on physician infertility, covering family planning, specific challenges for surgeons, and gender comparisons.
• The utilization and drawbacks of artificial reproductive technologies (ART) for physicians were discussed, considering financial and logistical implications.
• Numerous suggestions were identified for medical training programs to address physician infertility.

Conclusions:

• Physician infertility is a complex and often neglected issue requiring greater attention and support.
• Understanding the unique challenges faced by physicians is crucial for developing effective interventions.
• Recommendations for medical training programs aim to mitigate the impact of infertility on physicians' personal and professional lives.