ANÆSTHETIC PRACTICE AND PREGNANCY: Controlled Survey of Women Anæsthetists in the United Kingdom

Obstetric histories from 563 married women anæsthetists and 828 women doctor control subjects were analysed for the frequency of congenital abnormality, spontaneous abortion, and involuntary infertility. Anæsthetists working during pregnancy had a significantly higher frequency of congenital abnormality (6·5%) than those not at work (2·5%) but not significantly different from the control frequency (4·9%). They had a frequency of spontaneous abortions (18·2%) which was significantly higher than in the control group but not significantly different from anæsthetists not at work. Involuntary infertility among anæsthetists (12%) was twice as frequent as in the control group.