(261) DIGITAL PROMOTION OF INFERTILITY COVERAGE FOR TRAINEES IN UROLOGY RESIDENCY PROGRAMS

Abstract Introduction Physicians face significantly higher rates of infertility than the general public and over 50% of medical residents express concerns over their own fertility. This highlights a pressing issue within the medical community, particularly among those in surgical training programs. Addressing these concerns is crucial for the well-being and future planning of medical professionals, especially as certain institutions have begun to offer coverage for fertility services in employer-sponsored insurance plans. Objective To evaluate the accessibility of online information describing infertility coverage for resident physicians by accredited United States urology residency programs. Methods Utilizing the AUA’s listing of accredited U.S. Urology Programs, we investigated each program website to assess for mention of fertility benefits and coverage offered for trainees. Regardless of the information found at the primary program websites, we conducted a second inquiry via a thorough internet search to find any mention of fertility coverage offered at individual institutions. Fertility benefits were defined as coverage for any of the following: fertility evaluation, intrauterine insemination (IUI), in-vitro fertilization (IVF), surgical treatment, egg/sperm storage, fertility medications, and/or adoption services. The programs were then sorted into four groups depending on available online information: 1.) No mention of fertility benefits; 2.) Information regarding coverage was alluded to but behind a required institutional login or portal; 3.) Fertility benefits/coverage was mentioned on the website and is offered to its trainees; 4.) Fertility benefits/coverage was mentioned on the website but is not offered to its trainees. Descriptive statistics were performed on the dataset using SPSS. Results Of the 156 urology program websites, nearly 75% did not mention fertility coverage options at all (Figure One). On their main residency website, 15.4% mentioned that they provide fertility coverage for their residents, 2.6% explicitly mentioned that they do not provide fertility care through their insurance plans, and in 8.3%, fertility coverage information was not accessible due to institutional login/portal. Lastly, through the broader search, 42.3% of institutions with an associated urology program did not mention fertility benefits. In 48.7% of health systems, fertility benefits were mentioned and offered. Conclusions Despite growing concerns in the medical community about the fertility impact of demanding residency programs and delaying childbearing, there is a lack of transparency regarding fertility coverage on urology residency websites. Clear and accessible information regarding infertility coverage would enable trainees to make more informed decisions when selecting the rank of residency programs, ensuring that they can adequately plan for their personal and professional futures. Disclosure No.