Rethinking “Geriatric Pregnancy”: Why Words Matter in Modern Fertility Care Featuring Dr. Roy Handelsman

Language shapes how we experience healthcare — and in reproductive medicine, the words we use can have a lasting emotional impact. For decades, the term “geriatric pregnancy” has been applied to pregnancies in women over 35, a phrase that can sound harsh and outdated in today’s context.

New research commissioned by HRC Fertility reveals that most Americans agree: 65% say the term creates unnecessary anxiety, while 68% believe it hurts self-esteem. As medical understanding of fertility continues to evolve, so too should the way we talk about it.

In this post, Dr. Roy Handelsman, M.D., FACOG, of HRC Fertility Encino and Westlake Village, shares why inclusive and compassionate language is essential to patient-centered care, and how terms like “advanced maternal age” more accurately reflect the realities of modern pregnancy.

To read the article in its entirety, please visit the Educated Patient link here.