Medical Student Perceptions of Parenthood Timing [37A

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The practice of delaying parenthood in lieu of professional pursuits is common in medicine. Scant literature exists on medical students' postponement of parenthood. We aimed to assess medical students' self-perceived fertility and preservation, attitudes toward delaying parenthood, and if the desire to have children affects specialty choice. METHODS: A 23-item survey of yes/no and multiple-choice questions was distributed to students at two west coast medical schools. Responses were voluntary and anonymous. 658 total surveys were collected and analyzed between October 2017 and March 2018. Nonparent and parent responses were analyzed separately using univariate logistic regression. All analyses were conducted in R software using the generalized linear model function. RESULTS: Among all those surveyed, 59.8% were female, 59.3% MD students, 85.1% age 30 or younger, and 88.5% were nonparents. Among nonparents who desire children: 55% want their first child between ages 31-35, 82.6% have concerns about the timing of when to start a family, 72% feel pressure to delay parenthood given career circumstances, and males more than females would consider cryopreservation in the face of subfertility. CONCLUSION: Many medical students have concerns about the timing of when to have children, feel the pressure to delay having children, and/or desire starting families when professional demands peak and fertility declines. Given the increasing age of matriculating medical students and the intensive time investment in education and training, our research suggests that medical education institutions consider how they can better aid students in balancing the challenges of pursuing medicine with the desire to have children.