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Accessibility & LanguageMedicine and Motherhood Study
In the context of the ongoing feminisation of the medical workforce, the Medicine and Motherhood (MAM) project seeks to initiate a national conversation on fertility and family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood among women doctors and its relationship to doctor wellbeing, recruitment and retention, and health system functioning.
Research internationally suggests that pregnancy among doctors may be associated with a variety of challenges including delayed childbearing, increased use of assisted reproductive technology, higher rates of pregnancy complications and loss, discrimination against, and stigmatisation of, pregnancy, and slowed career progression. However, much of the existing research originates from North America and differences in culture, working conditions, maternity care, and other factors, limit the generalisability of this research to the Irish context.
The MAM project will draw upon existing literature and engagement with women doctors working in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) to elucidate experiences of family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood balanced alongside active clinical practice and patient care among women doctors in ROI. MAM project data will also support a multispecialty panel of physicians and subject matter experts to develop recommendations for optimal training and working environments for Irish doctors to ensure they can realise both family and career aspirations.
What is planned:
This research will be conducted as five work packages:
- A scoping review of research on pregnancy and motherhood among European and UK doctors (completed; manuscript available here).
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A survey of 776 Irish female doctors that considered fertility and family planning, experiences of pregnancy and childbearing, perceived impacts of pregnancy and childbearing on work and careers, and the relationship of these variables with wellbeing, career satisfaction, and work-life balance (completed; manuscript under review).
- Interviews with 55 women doctors working in Ireland on perceived barriers and facilitators to pregnancy and motherhood (completed; manuscript in preparation).
- Interviews with women doctors working in Ireland on their experiences of being childfree, childless, or having no living children. Our interviews will probe the perceived consequences, circumstances, and/or choices that resulted in being childfree, childless, or having no living children. This will include perceptions of how medical organisations, careers, cultures and training contributed to their choices and/or circumstances. (Winter 2026; We will commence data collection for this study in the coming months, and we welcome any input or interest. Please contact us using the below information).
- A national, multispecialty panel that will convene and consider the data collected and offer recommendations on changes required to support an optimal working and training environment (Winter 2027).
Project Team:
Ms Sanjana Biju, University of Galway
Dr Sinéad Lydon, University of Galway
Dr Caoimhe Madden, University of Galway
Prof. Paul O'Connor, University of Galway
Prof. Keelin O'Donoghue, University College Cork
Dr Niamh Humphries, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon, Women in Medicine in Ireland Network
Dr Grant Jeffrey, Health Service Executive Workplace Health and Wellbeing Unit
Dr Jennifer Finnegan, Regional Hospital Mullingar
Prof. Dara Byrne, National Simulation Office, Health Service Executive
Funder:
This work is supported by The MPS Foundation Grant Programme.
The MPS Foundation was established to undertake research, analysis, education and training to enable healthcare professionals to provide better care for their patients and improve their own wellbeing. To achieve this, it supports and funds research across the world that will make a difference and can be applied in the workplace.
More information:
If you wish to take part in any of the above studies, or have any questions related to the MAM project, please contact Sanjana Biju (sanjana.biju@universityofgalway.ie) or Dr Sinéad Lydon (sinead.lydon@universityofgalway.ie) for further information.
The MAM project benefits from the input of an expert advisory group consisting of doctor-mothers and members with experience of working within key stakeholder organisations such as the HSE and training bodies. The insights of this group are vital in shaping this research and supporting our interpretation of data collected. If you would like to join our expert advisory group, please get in touch.
