Several studies have investigated the gender preference of obstetricians-gynecologists (OB-GYNs) around the globe. Obstetrics and gynecology deal with female patients exclusively, and gender selection in this special female domain bears significant cultural and religious aspects in childbirth and gynecological conditions. This cross-sectional study has investigated women’s gender preferences of their OB-GYN in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and assessed the factors that influenced their choice. A total of 390 female participants above 18 years of age answered a self-reported questionnaire distributed on different social media platforms from June 2021 to August 2021. A majority of the study participants have preferred female OB-GYN for pelvic examination, primary health screening, antenatal care, and major gynecological surgery (92.6%, 72.8%, 68.2%, and 61%, respectively). Almost one-third (31.3%) of the study females reported that they would allow the presence of a male obstetrician in the labor room. The highest three ranked factors affecting a patient's decision for choosing the gender of the OB-GYN were physician’s knowledge and experience, embarrassment with a male physician, and easiness to talk about women's issues with a female physician. The vast majority of women in this study are inclined to choose female OB-GYN in general situations, for cesarean section, and in emergency situations.

Background: Chromosomal abnormalities affect many children which lead to high rates of morbidity and mortality among them. So, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is an evolving technology used to detect a specific genetic disorder in embryos of a couple known to be carriers or affected by a specific mutation. Similarly, it could be used in advanced maternal age which is a high risk of chromosomal abnormalities. Although PGT is a solution for many inherited chromosomal disorders, many ethical dilemmas surround its application. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the community awareness and acceptance of PGT which will eventually lead to a healthier society through disease-free babies in Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methodology: A qualitative cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted within the population of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was designed in Arabic and distributed electronically through social media platforms. Results: The study included 837 participants, whose ages ranged from 18 to 65 years with the mean age 33.5 ± 11.9 years. Good awareness and acceptance were detected among 53.7% of the old aged group (50 years or more) compared to 39.5% of the young age group. Also, 44.9% of female participants had good awareness in comparison to 34.2% of males (p=.033). Participants with a higher number of children had significantly higher awareness and acceptance of PGT. Also, 44.3% of participants who knew someone in need of assisted reproductive technology, had good awareness and acceptance levels compared to 36.9% of those who did not (p=.033). Conclusion: The perception of Eastern Province’s Saudi citizens toward PGT is found to be low. Increasing their perception toward such technology is needed as it is known that many chromosomal abnormalities are prevalent among this population, particularly sickle cell disease. Achieving this goal will eventually lead to decrease the burden of prevalent inherited diseases. Since Saudis' opinions are almost influenced by cultural and religious points of view, care should be given to these aspects.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the awareness, attitudes towards fertility, and intentions for parenthood between preclinical and clinical medical students. METHODS: An online cross-sectional study was conducted among preclinical and clinical medical students of King Faisal University, Al Ahsa Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted during the first semester of the academic year of a medical bachelor's degree program, utilizing a convenience sampling technique. A total of 225 students, comprising 148 from the 3rd year and 77 from the 4th year blocks, voluntarily completed self-reported questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version-26. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 21.56±1.55 years, with a slightly higher representation of females (54.2%) compared to males (45.8%). Among the participants, 45.8% were married, and only 11.1% had children, while the majority expressed a desire to have children (73.8%) within the age range of 25-29 years. A significant proportion (44.9%) indicated a preference for 2-3 children. In terms of childcare, most participants agreed to its necessity. Interestingly, females across both academic years showed similar responses regarding the possibility of combining work/study, with almost equal numbers agreeing or remaining undecided. Clinical students exhibited greater fertility knowledge compared to preclinical students, with no significant differences observed based on gender. Furthermore, participants with a family history of infertility were more inclined to consider both IVF and adoption (p-value = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Clinical-year medical students showed improved understanding of female fertility decline and infertility causes, coupled with positive attitudes towards parenthood at a suitable reproductive age, preferring smaller families.

Background: Becoming a mother carries many challenges that can impact a woman's life. The childbirth route, whether vaginal or cesarean, may affect maternal mental health, leading to postpartum depression with various physical, emotional, and behavioral changes. Objectives: To evaluate the association of postpartum depression with the childbirth route, also to measure its frequency and point prevalence at a single time and place among Saudi women. Methods: A Correlational cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024, at the King Faisal University Polyclinic, targeting Saudi women within their first six months postpartum. The sociodemographic and obstetrical data were retrieved, while the Edinburgh assessment questionnaire was utilized to assess symptoms of postpartum depression. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. Results: In total, 257 qualifying mothers were analyzed with ages ranging from 18 to 45 years (mean age 29.7 ± 6 years). A small proportion, 17.1% experienced psychological issues during pregnancy, 30.4% encountered pregnancy complications, 41.2% had their first childbirth, and 84% delivered vaginally. Exactly 59.9% reported depression, 38.1% had mild, 19.1% moderate, and 2.7% severe depression. In the initial analysis, age 31-40 years, higher education, and obstetric characteristics revealed statistical associations with moderate/severe postpartum depression (Chi-square test p < 0.05). Normal vaginal birth, multiparity, and antepartum complications were identified as the predictors of moderate/severe postpartum depression. Conclusion: A 22% prevalence of moderate to severe postpartum depression was retrieved. The modifications in birth care strategies and postpartum counseling in addressing postpartum depression help achieve a happy motherhood.