The influence of lifestyle of OB/GYN female residents on gynecological and obstetrical outcomes: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To learn the influence of obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) female residents’ lifestyle on obstetric and gynecological characteristics compared to women matched by age from the general population. Study design: A cross-sectional multicenter study including OB/GYN female residents from ten different hospitals in Israel, who completed an internet questionnaire published during 2017–2018, that were compared to women matched by age from the general population. Questions dealt with lifestyle habits, obstetrical and gynecological outcomes. Data are presented as median and inter-quartile range. Results: During the study period 97 women completed the questionnaire, of them 56 (57.7%) OB/GYN female residents and 41(42.3%) controls. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups regarding age, marital status, gravidity and parity. However, lifestyle characteristics reported by OB/GYN female residents differed compared to controls: OB/GYN female residents found their work more stressogenic [53 (94.6%) vs. 20 (48.8%); p = 0.001], suffered from deprived sleep [42(75.6%) vs. 13(31.8%); p = 0.001], were less punctilious on dental hygiene [13(23.2%) vs. 27(65.8%); p = 0.001] and reported maintaining a less healthy diet [35(62.5%) vs. 15(36.6%); p = 0.003]. Despite these differences, general happiness reported by both groups was comparable (35(62.5%) vs. 27(65.9%) for OB/GYN and control women respectively; p = 0.73). Pregnancy rate was found to be more than double in the resident's group [30 (53.6%) vs. 9 (22%); p = 0.002], with no differences in the rates of: complications during pregnancy [51(91.1%) vs. 38(92.7%); p = 0.78]; abortions [10 (17.9%) vs. 8 (19.5%); p = 0.84]; augmentation of labor [5 (9%) vs. 7 (17.1%); p = 0.18]; or cesarean deliveries [7(12.5%) vs. 7(17%); p = 0.48]. Logistic regression analysis found both parity and residency as independent variables significantly associated with pregnancy rate [(B = 0.69, p = 0.047), (B = 1.95, p = 0.016), respectively]. Conclusion: Although resident women in OB/GYN reported on more adverse lifestyle parameters, comparable obstetric and gynecological outcomes were seen, with residency and parity being independently associated with higher pregnancy rate.