Medical school and pregnancy: can you really have it all?

Background Since 2017 the majority of U.S. medical students have been female, and many face the decision of starting a family during the rigors of medical training or waiting an average of almost 10 years to finish residency. Methods This study solicited medical students’ views and opinions on being pregnant during medical school. A survey on pregnancy during medical school was sent to 38 U.S. osteopathic medical schools, and 13 agreed to distribute it to their student population. In total, 64 responses were eligible and analyzed. Results Of 64 complete responses, 49 (76.6%) had previously been pregnant during medical school and 15 (23.4%) were currently pregnant. The average age of first pregnancy was 26.6 years (SD = 3.2). 83.9% (n = 52) of respondents felt pregnancy affected their medical studies. Attending medical school in the Southern U.S. was significantly associated with less perceived support from faculty and less support transitioning back to curriculum after pregnancy. Student comments revealed negative experiences around curricular flexibility and ability to take time off. Conclusions Pregnancy is a unique experience for medical students, and often entails decisions and sacrifices which medical students may feel they face without the support of their school. With little flexibility, medical schools’ support structures and policies regarding pregnancy may be outdated and inadequate for many students.