Search

Objectives In Germany, the 2018 amended Maternity Protection Act frequently leads to fundamental restrictions for female physicians, especially surgeons, and now even also for students impeding the progress of their careers. Our goal was to assess the current situation for pregnant female physicians and students, respectively, and their perspective on this amendment regarding their career path. Methods A nationwide survey was conducted in Germany from December 2020 to February 2021. The questionnaire included 790 female physicians and students who were pregnant after the inception of the amended Act. Those women pregnant after the beginning of the corona pandemic were excluded. Results The survey revealed that two thirds of female physicians worked a maximum of 50% in their previous professional activity as soon as they reported pregnancy. Amongst medical students this amounted up to 72%. 18% of the female physicians and 17% of the female medical students respectively could not follow the sense of these restrictions. 44% of female medical physicians and 33% of female students felt their career impeded. This led up to 43% amongst female medical doctors and 53% amongst female medical students, respectively, who were concerned to announce their pregnancy. As a consequence, pregnancies were reported at 12 weeks in female physicians compared to 19 weeks in medical students. Conclusions Analyses of the current survey revealed that a relevant number of female physicians and medical students felt impeded in their career path through the application of the amended Maternity Act.

Objectives Worldwide, not only the number of female medical students, but also of female surgeons increases. Simultaneously, younger generations take a closer look to their work-life balance. With this in mind, it seems necessary to evaluate the expectations of female surgeons in particular with respect to pregnancy during their surgical career. Methods Therefore, a nationwide survey was conducted in Germany from July to December 2016 under the auspices of the German Society of Surgery as well as the Professional Board of German Surgeons. The questionnaire involved 2,294 female surgeons and 1,843 complete records were evaluated. Results Of the analyzed answers, 62% of the women (n=781) were operating during pregnancy. The joy of surgery (91.6%), followed by team spirit (57.1%), were the main motivations to perform operations while pregnant. Operative activity decreased from 30.8% in the first 3 months of pregnancy to 21.5% during the last three months. Regarding the possible complaints, e.g., leg edema, back pain, premature labor and vaginal bleeding, there were no significant differences between the women with or without activity in the operating room. Sick leave due to pregnancy (1–10 days) was stated by 40.4% of respondents. Conclusion Despite strong legal regulations for pregnant surgeons, the survey showed that most female surgeons are eager to operate despite their pregnancy. The results also demonstrate no significant differences regarding complications during pregnancy- or pregnant-dependent absence from work. Hospitals and surgical departments are asked to establish proper working conditions for pregnant surgeons and pregnancy should not be an obstacle for a career in surgery.

Work–life balance is an upcoming issue for physicians. The working group “Family and Career” of the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG) designed a survey to reflect the present work–life balance of female and male gynecologists in Germany. The 74-item, web-based survey “Profession–Family–Career” was sent to all members of the DGGG (n = 4,564). In total, there were 1,036 replies (23 %) from 75 % female gynecologists (n = 775) aged 38 ± 7 (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) years and 25 % male (n = 261) gynecologists aged 48 ± 11 years. Statistical analyses were performed using the mean and SD for descriptive analysis. Regression models were performed considering an effect of p ≤ 0.05 as statistically significant. 47 % women and 46 % men reported satisfaction with their current work–life balance independent of gender (p gender = 0.15). 70 % women and 75 % men answered that work life and private life were equally important to them (p gender = 0.12). While 39 % women versus 11 % men worked part-time (p gender 0.05). At least 37 % women and men neglected both their partner and their children very often due to their work. Female physicians often described their work situation similar to male physicians, although important differences regarding total work time, overtime work and appreciation by supervisors were reported. Work life affected private life of women and men in a similar way.

Thank you for your response [1] to our manuscript [2]. Indeed we agree with the dilemma of satisfaction with work–life balance. It is very interesting, that young students choose to be a gynecologist because of the expectation of having a work–life balance but then realize that this is not the case. I think this is the biggest problem, which we need to be concerned of and need to address in future. The question is—WHY does the expectation for a good work– life balance does not come true? Is it the amount of time, which needs to be spent at work? Is it the scarce opportunity for part-time work? Or is it the total number of ‘‘on duty’’-calls? Or even the kind of work, that itself is not what young professionals expected? Is it the heavy responsibilities in obstetrics and/or the amount of emergencies? We need to address all these questions in future to find a solution on how to improve the work–life balance and raise the attractiveness of the gynecologic profession. Otherwise I expect, we will not find committed young physicians who choose the profession of gynecology and obstetrics.

Dr. med. Astrid Buhren hat sich als Vorsitzende des Deutschen Arztinnenbundes und durch ihre Mitgliedschaft in zahlreichen Gremien intensiv dafur eingesetzt, die Burn-out-Problematik der Arzteschaft in das Bewusstsein der Fachoffentlichkeit zu rucken. Wir sprachen uber Moglichkeiten, der Gefahr des inneren Ausbrennens entgegenzuwirken.