Apprehension About A Possible Adverse Reproductive Outcome Haunts Almost All Anaesthesiologists. Despite Extensive Review Of Literature, It Is Not Clear If Anaesthesiologists Carry A Higher Risk Of A Poor Reproductive Outcome Than The General Population. With The Introduction Of Newer Inhalational Anaesthetic Agents And Changing Anaesthetic Practice Habits, It Is Imperative To Address This Question On A Serious Note.

This Study Was An Internet Questionnaire Based Analysis. After IRB Approval, All Enrolled Members Of The ISA Were Emailed A Link To A Questionnaire. The Questionnaire Solicited Information Pertaining To Anaesthetic Practice Techniques, Reproductive Outcomes And Perinatal Outcomes. Absolute Anonymity Was Maintained Both During The Response Collection And Data Analysis Stages. Duplication Of Data Was Prevented By Linking The Survey Response To The Individual’s Email ID On The Survey Site.

Of The 9973 Members Who Received A Link To The Survey, The Total Number Of Responses Obtained Was 1712 (17.16%). The Number Of Respondents Expressing Inability To Conceive Was 6.68%; 20.12% Of The Female Respondents Had To Try For More Than One Year To Conceive And 3.1% Of The Female Respondents Needed Assisted Conception. Prevalence Of Spontaneous Abortion Was 25.39% And 18.73% In Female And Spouses Of The Male Respondents Respectively. Prevalence Of Major And Minor Congenital Defects Was 9.01% (Females Respondents -9.29%; Male Respondents – 8.87%). Prevalence Of Preterm Delivery Was 15.47% And 11.13% In Female And Spouses Of The Male Respondents Respectively. Children With Low Birth Weight Were Reported In 9.29% And 8.87% In Female And Spouses Of The Male Respondents Respectively. Conclusions – The Prevalence Of Infertility Was Similar To The Global Infertility Rates. Prevalence Of Spontaneous Abortions Were Higher In The Female Anaesthesiologists And Spouses Of Male Anaesthesiologists Population Than The National Spontaneous Abortion Rate (10%). The Prevalence Of Birth Defects (Major And Minor) In The Progeny Of Anaesthesiologist Population Was Almost The Same As The Other Indian General population based studies.