Pregnancies in gynecologic oncologists: An assessment of pregnancy policies and complications within a surgical subspecialty.

OBJECTIVES

To describe pregnancy-related experiences, complications and leave among gynecologic oncologists. Secondarily, to explore the institutional policy landscape pertaining to workload adjustments during pregnancy.

METHODS

We sent an anonymous, elective survey to all active physicians within the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) registry from September to December 2024. The survey explored family planning goals, pregnancy outcomes, pregnancy complications, leave after pregnancy, and work hours during pregnancy. Respondents were allowed but not required to offer open-ended comments, which were thematically analyzed.

RESULTS

276 respondents reported on 480 pregnancies, 385 of which were carried by the respondent. Of live births carried by gynecologic oncologists, more than half experienced a major complication and 1 in 4 delivered preterm. Working more than 60 h per week in the third trimester (66% vs 50%, p = 0.02), taking more than seven nights of call per month in the third trimester (45% vs 31%, p = 0.04) and experiencing a major complication of pregnancy (87% vs 38%, p < 0.001) were associated with reporting that workload negatively impacted a pregnancy. Very few pregnancies involved work-hour reductions or institutional policies for work-hour reduction. A majority of respondents reported delaying childbearing for training; most (76%) regretted this delay.

CONCLUSIONS

Gynecologic oncologists reported high rates of pregnancy complications, most strikingly a preterm delivery rate of 25%. Very few adjusted work hours in pregnancy or had access to institutional policies for work hour reduction. This study provides insight into the experiences of pregnant gynecologic oncologists and highlights a need for explicit policies to support pregnancy.