Highlights
- •The incidence of miscarriages is nearly double that of 1995.
- •The odds of experiencing infertility are twice as high.
- •There is a considerable decrease in the rate of elective abortion.
- •Obstetrical complications occur at similar rates and remain unacceptably high.
Abstract
Background
To understand whether the fertility and childbearing outcomes of female plastic surgeons
have changed, this study compares current data to historical data from 25 years ago.
Methods
An IRB-approved survey was sent to female plastic surgery residents, fellows, and
members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2018–2020. The results were
compared to historical data from 1995.
Results
There were 351 respondents with a response rate of 26%. Fifty-four percent of women
had children, which was similar to 1995 (54% vs. 51%, p = 0.45). Miscarriage affected
40% of women, a rate twice as high as 1995 (18.9%, p = n/a). The prevalence of abortion
was 13%, significantly lower than 1995 (26%, p < 0.005). The rate of infertility was
54%, significantly higher than 1995 (33%, p < 0.005). Obstetrical complications were
slightly higher than in 1995 (61% vs. 57%, p = n/a).
Conclusions
There is a disappointing lack of progress in fertility and childbearing outcomes among
female plastic surgeons.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 21, 2022
Accepted:
September 18,
2022
Received in revised form:
July 18,
2022
Received:
April 18,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
