Female doctors in Ireland have major concerns about how starting a family will affect their careers, new research has found.

According to the findings from the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), male doctors do not have the same concerns.

The research involved a survey of 519 GPs and hospital doctors and it found that 82% of female doctors had ‘been concerned' about the impact that having children could have on their careers compared to just 39% of male doctors.

Furthermore, 46% of female doctors have delayed having children for career reasons compared to just 19% of male doctors.

The survey also noted that 83% of female doctors find it difficult to balance their job with their family commitments, along with 73% of male doctors.

Meanwhile, 85% of female doctors feel that existing workplace supports do not provide an opportunity to balance their job with family commitments. Some 71% of male doctors agree with this.

The research also noted that when choosing what area of medicine to specialise in, female doctors were more likely to consider work-life balance and job flexibility than male doctors. As a result, there are clear gender distinctions when it comes to choosing a specialty.

"It is obvious from the research that gender still continues to impact on careers in the medical profession, with family considerations often affecting female practitioners to a greater extent than their male colleagues.

"There is also some catch-up required regarding encouraging female doctors to apply for top consultant posts. The research shows that a higher proportion of male doctors say they have been encouraged at some time during their career to apply for a consultant post when compared to female doctors," commented IMO president, Dr Ann Hogan.

She pointed out that certain specialties have ‘very low numbers of female consultants'. For example, just 15% of consultant surgeons are female.

The findings were released at a seminar exploring issues for women in their careers, which was hosted by the IMO and the Bar of Ireland in King's Inn in Dublin.