Pregnant Surgeons Face Higher Risks, Study Finds Solutions
Pregnant Surgeons Face Higher Risks, New Study Finds
Madison, WI – Balancing a demanding surgical career with motherhood presents unique challenges, and a new study reveals pregnant surgeons face significantly higher risks of complications compared to the general population.
Dr. Tiffany Glazer, an ear, nose, and throat surgeon at UW-Health, led a review of existing literature published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study found that up to 82% of female surgeons experience increased risks of miscarriage, preterm delivery, and infertility.
“So many people we knew had either personally experienced these complications or knew someone who did,” Dr. Glazer told WMTV. “It was just a matter of getting that details together in one cohesive paper and discovering why.”
the research points to several contributing factors. Surgeons frequently enough delay pregnancy until their mid-30s due to the lengthy training process.The physically demanding nature of the job, including long hours and heavy lifting, can also lead to musculoskeletal problems. Additionally, the disruption of circadian rhythms caused by grueling 80-hour workweeks during residencies is linked to pregnancy complications.
To address these concerns, the study recommends specific guidelines for pregnant surgeons.These include limiting lifting to 25 pounds, taking rest breaks every three hours, capping weekly work hours at 70, restricting call nights to six per month, and avoiding on-call shifts during the third trimester.
Dr. Glazer is working with UW Health to implement these recommendations. “I’m really proud to work at UW.We are on the forefront of implementing something like this,” she said. ”It’s been universally very well received by the department, and honestly many of the faculty have been really emotional about it.”
Dr.Glazer and her colleagues are committed to ensuring women in surgery can pursue both fulfilling careers and families.
Balancing the Scalpel and Stroller: Could New Guidelines Help Pregnant surgeons?
A groundbreaking new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shines a light on the unique challenges faced by pregnant surgeons,revealing a startlingly high rate of pregnancy complications. Led by Dr. Tiffany Glazer, an ear, nose, and throat surgeon at UW-Health, the study reviewed existing research and found that up to 82% of female surgeons experience increased risks of miscarriage, preterm labor, and infertility.
“So many people we knew had either personally experienced these complications or knew someone who did,” Dr. Glazer explained in a recent interview with WMTV. “It was just a matter of getting those details together in one cohesive paper and discovering why.”
The research points to several contributing factors, including delayed pregnancies due to the lengthy training process, the physically demanding nature of the job, and the disruption of circadian rhythms caused by grueling work hours during residency.
To address these concerns, Dr. Glazer and her team are advocating for specific guidelines for pregnant surgeons, including:
Limiting lifting to 25 pounds.
Taking rest breaks every three hours.
Capping weekly work hours at 70.
Restricting call nights to six per month.
* Avoiding on-call shifts during the third trimester.
Dr. Glazer is already working with UW Health to implement these recommendations. “I’m really proud to work at UW,” she shared.”We are on the forefront of implementing something like this. it’s been universally very well received by the department, and honestly, many of the faculty have been really emotional about it.”
The study’s findings and Dr. Glazer’s work offer a glimmer of hope for women who aspire to build both thriving surgical careers and families. Dr. Glazer and her colleagues remain dedicated to ensuring that women in surgery can pursue both fulfilling careers and motherhood without having to compromise their health or well-being.