Surgeons, Pregnancy, and Work Demands

Lack of workplace support linked to pregnancy outcomes.

By
Kathryn Wighton
March 23, 2026
3 min

MDSpire News

Objective:

To investigate the prevalence of obstetric complications among female surgeons compared to their childbearing partners and assess the impact of workplace support.

Approach:

Key Findings:

31% of female surgeons reported obstetric complications (e.g., placental insufficiency, placenta previa) compared to 23% of partners of male surgeons.
Female surgeons had 1.34 times the risk of complications, which was not statistically significant after adjusting for workplace support.
Over 50% of respondents reported a lack of workplace support, with 64% of female surgeons affected.
A lack of workplace support was associated with 1.58 times the risk of obstetric complications.
Multiple gestation was associated with approximately six to seven times the risk of complications.

Interpretation:

Obstetric complications among female surgeons may be linked to modifiable work conditions rather than inherent differences, highlighting the need for improved workplace support and addressing cultural norms.

Limitations:

9.5% response rate may limit generalizability and impact the reliability of findings.
Potential selection and recall bias.
Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference.

Conclusion:

Improving workplace support and addressing cultural norms could mitigate obstetric complications in female surgeons, emphasizing the need for systemic changes.