Sex differences in the delivery of fertility control services were explored in a national survey of 1420 recently trained obstetrician-gynecologists in active practice. Women were found to be more likely than men to provide abortion services but less likely than men to provide amniocentesis and certain infertility services. Women were found to contribute less than their proportionate share of two services for which volume was measured: artificial inseminations and sterilizations. Physician gender, however, was a less important predictor of volume of sterilizations delivered than were a set of practice-related variables. Overall our findings suggest that the increased representation of women among obstetrician-gynecologists could influence the delivery of a few specific services.
PIP: Sex differences in the delivery of fertility control services were explored in a 1984 national survey of 1420 recently trained obstetrician-gynecologists in active practice in the US. The survey consisted of a telephone interview and a self-administered questionnaire mailed to respondents to the interview. Respondents were located in all 50 states and had been in practice an average of 3 years at the time of the survey. Women were found to be more likely to provide abortion services but less likely than men to provide amniocentesis and certain infertility services. Women were found to contribute less than their proportionate share of 2 services for which volume was measured: artificial inseminations and sterilizations. Physician gender, however, was a less important predictor of volume of sterilizations delivered than were a set of practice related variables. Overall the findings suggest that the increased representation of women among obstetrician-gynecologists could influence the delivery of a few specific services. While women were significantly more likely than men to be supportive of greater patient decision power in the matter of sterilization, attitudes were not found to be associated with number of sterilizations performed. The strongest predictor of sterilization volume was the physician's number of patient encounters/week; physicians treating more patients/week provided more sterilizations during the last year. Other predictors of sterilization volume that were stronger than gender included practicing in a multispecialty group; practicing in the north central or southern states; and practicing in a nonurban area.