Fertility Preservation and Treatment Coverage Among United States Plastic Surgery Trainees

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Reproductive Medicine
• Surgical Training

Background:

• Plastic surgery trainees often postpone childbearing due to demanding residency schedules.
• Delayed childbearing increases risks of infertility and pregnancy complications for trainees.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess awareness and desire for fertility preservation among plastic surgery trainees.
• To evaluate institutional coverage of fertility preservation services.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to plastic surgery trainees.
• The survey assessed childbearing plans, reasons for postponement, and attitudes toward oocyte freezing.

Main Results:

• 66% of trainees postponed pregnancy due to residency demands.
• 45.8% would consider oocyte freezing; 85.6% received no fertility preservation education.
• Only 17.8% had program-provided fertility preservation coverage.

Conclusions:

• Plastic surgery trainees face significant barriers to childbearing due to training demands.
• Lack of education and access to fertility preservation services impacts trainees.
• There is a need for improved institutional support and education regarding fertility preservation.