Trends in Comparative Growth in Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Programs Over the Past 20 Years (2005-2024)

To examine the growth of obstetrics and gynecology residency programs and positions compared with other core medical specialties over the past 20 years.

Obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, psychiatry, pediatrics, and anesthesiology match data were obtained from the National Resident Matching Program from 2005 to 2024. Generalized least-squares regression models accounting for autocorrelation and heteroskedasticity were used to obtain yearly changes in the number of positions offered and number of programs for each specialty, as well as P values comparing the trends relative to obstetrics and gynecology before and after 2015 (the year of the transition to a single accreditation system).

Between 2005 and 2015, obstetrics and gynecology residency positions increased at an average annual rate of 1.0%, along with a slight decline in the number of programs (-0.5%). In contrast, from 2016 onward, obstetrics and gynecology residency positions increased by approximately 1.3% annually, with a 2.9% growth in programs. Up to 2015, obstetrics and gynecology experienced significantly slower growth in residency positions compared with almost all other specialties ( P ≤.05 in all instances) apart from family medicine and surgery. During that same period up to 2015, obstetrics and gynecology programs grew more slowly than emergency medicine, psychiatry, anesthesiology, and combined anesthesiology. Beginning in 2016, all specialties except family medicine, internal medicine, and combined anesthesia increased residency positions at significantly higher rates than obstetrics and gynecology ( P ≤.05). Since 2016, the growth of residency programs has remained slower for obstetrics and gynecology compared with family medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, and psychiatry.

Obstetrics and gynecology residency growth has lagged behind that of other specialties both before and since the single accreditation system transition in 2015, highlighting a persistent gap in capacity to meet increasing demand. These findings highlight the need for focused efforts to match the growth of obstetrics and gynecology residency positions and programs with the expanding health care demands.