New guidelines have been released to protect female orthopaedic surgeons from the surgical smoke, bone cement, radiation and long hours that can harm their unborn babies.

Around a quarter of female surgeons have at least one child during their training, according to the Australian Orthopaedic Association.

Yet they face higher rates of miscarriage and pregnancy complications, including preterm labour and intrauterine growth restriction, as well as three times the rate of infertility compared with the general population.

The association’s guidelines are based on a literature review by orthopaedic surgeon Dr Elizabeth Garcia, along with interviews with orthopaedic trainees and junior consultants who experienced pregnancy, fertility treatments, pregnancy loss, and return to work in recent years.