{
  "abstract": "Objectives Women doctors face considerable challenges navigating family planning, pregnancy and motherhood. Their experiences can have relevance for health system functioning, including doctor retention. This scoping review synthesises research on family planning, fertility, pregnancy and motherhood among women doctors in the EU and the UK.Design Scoping review conducted according to JBI best practice guidance.Data sources MEDLINE, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, PsycInfo and Web of Science were searched, and supplemented with backwards and forwards citation chasing.Eligibility criteria Peer-reviewed, original research, in English, focusing on either fertility and family planning, pregnancy and/or motherhood among women doctors in an EU country(s) and/or the UK.Data extraction and synthesis Data were extracted independently by two authors. Data were synthesised using deductive content analysis and collated using narrative synthesis.Results In total, 34 studies were identified. Family planning appears complicated by medical careers. Medical specialty choice is particularly impacted, with certain specialties (eg, General Practice) considered particularly family friendly and others markedly less so. Pregnancy complications among women doctors, especially surgeons, were documented. However, women doctors’ and non-doctors’ pregnancy outcomes were overall not significantly different. Notably, doctor-mothers had fewer children and were more likely to report making compromises or facing negative consequences when balancing family and career than doctor-fathers.Conclusions Women doctors in the EU and UK report challenges in balancing work and motherhood. With the potential for their experiences to impact on health system functioning and patient outcomes, training bodies and health organisations should take proactive action to better support women doctors and ensure they can remain in the profession and practice in their desired specialty. Future research examining working practices/schedules during pregnancy, breastfeeding experiences, parenting and childcare and maternal mental health will support a better understanding of women doctors’ experiences and facilitate implementation of effective supports.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Discipline of General Practice, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Sanjana Biju"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Irish Centre for Applied Patient Safety and Simulation, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Caoimhe Madden"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Discipline of General Practice, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland",
        "Irish Centre for Applied Patient Safety and Simulation, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Paul O’Connor"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Simulation Office, Health Service Executive, Galway, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Dara Byrne"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Graduate School of Healthcare Management, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Niamh Humphries"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Workplace Health and Wellbeing Unit, Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Grant Jeffrey"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Regional Hospital Mullingar, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Jennifer Finnegan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cork University Maternity Hospital, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Keelin O’Donoghue"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Women in Medicine in Ireland Network, Cork, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Sarah Fitzgibbon"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Discipline of General Practice, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland",
        "Irish Centre for Applied Patient Safety and Simulation, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Sinéad Lydon"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Fertility, family planning, pregnancy and motherhood among women doctors working in the EU and UK: a scoping review",
  "uid": "0c249600-1b0a-5ab6-8556-f6835ef08843"
}