Dr. Natalia Llarena was recently featured in a KABC-TV interview, where she discussed HRC’s call for the medical community to retire the term “geriatric pregnancy.”

“Geriatric pregnancy” refers to pregnancies that occur in women of 35 years or older. Dr. Natalia Llarena, a double-board certified ob-gyn and reproductive endocrinologist at HRC Fertility Pasadena states, “The term was established to highlight that we do see gradual increases in the risk of pregnancy complications as women enter these mid 30s.” Some of these complications can include gestational diabetes, high blood pressure in pregnancy, and chromosomal abnormalities.

However, HRC is calling on the medical community to replace the term as new survey data found that the phrase is outdated and is harmful to patients’ confidence and mental health. Dr. Llarena highlights how the landscape of pregnancy has changed significantly over the past decade, emphasizing the need for medical professionals to adapt their language and practices to better support and reflect the experiences of today’s patients.

To learn more and watch the full interview on the HRC Fertility YouTube channel, click the link here.