HRC Fertility Study Shows Why “Geriatric Pregnancy” Must Go

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LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 9, 2025--

HRC Fertility, one of the largest providers of advanced fertility care, is calling on the medical community to eliminate the term “geriatric pregnancy” after new national survey data revealed the phrase is out of step with modern family-building and harmful to patients’ confidence and mental health.

The August 2025 survey, commissioned by HRC Fertility in partnership with Propeller Insights, polled 1,000 U.S. adults about their experiences with and perceptions of outdated pregnancy terminology. The results are clear: the majority of Americans want the label “geriatric pregnancy” gone for good. 65% of Americans believe the phrase heightens anxiety for women over 35 and 68% said it undermines women’s self-confidence during pregnancy.

“This survey showed that fewer than 6% of Americans want to keep the term ‘geriatric pregnancy,’ signaling that the medical field is lagging behind public sentiment,” said Dr. John Wilcox, Chair of the HRC Fertility Medical Group.

“Patients are clearly telling us that this language no longer serves them. As physicians, we have an obligation to listen. Updating our terminology is about ensuring our words reflect modern medical realities and support the emotional well-being of every patient who walks through our doors,” added Dr. Bradford Kolb, President of HRC Fertility, who currently sees patients at the Pasadena office and is leading HRC Fertility’s newest location in Las Vegas slated to open late 2025.

Parents and patients speak out

The data underscores how lived experience shapes views with over half of parents polled describing the term as negative. Notably, 35% of women ages 35–44 said they would definitely consider switching doctors over the label, with another 21% saying it would depend on tone and context.

“Language matters, especially in reproductive care,” shared Dr. Natalia Llarena, a fertility and IVF physician specialist at HRC Fertility’s Pasadena office. “Outdated labels like ‘geriatric pregnancy’ not only fail to reflect today’s family-building norms, but can also unwittingly bring shame or confusion to an otherwise happy moment in time, especially at a time when support is needed most.” “At HRC Fertility, we believe every mother deserves to feel celebrated for her path to parenthood,” agreed Dr. Daniel Potter, of HRC Fertility’s Orange County office.

Generational and gender double standards

The survey also revealed stark generational divides. Nearly 72% of Gen Z women report anxiety about their age and childbearing, with 47% saying they feel pressured to have children before 30. At the same time, 69% of respondents said men don’t face the same judgment for having children after 35. The “too old” threshold differed dramatically by gender: 79% said women are too old to have children after 45, while only 55% said the same for men. These findings highlight a persistent double standard in how society views parenthood, one that reinforces why stigmatizing terms aimed at women must be removed from our cultural lexicon.

“The term ‘geriatric pregnancy’ may have once reflected medical caution, but barring exceptional circumstances, it’s an outdated label in today’s society and of modern parenthood,” shared Dr. Lisa Becht based out of HRC Fertility's Newport Beach office. “It does little to inform care and a lot to undermine confidence. Our language should evolve alongside the women we serve,” added Dr. Mickey Coffler, a long established IVF doctor at HRC Fertility in San Diego.

A call for change

HRC Fertility is urging medical organizations to officially remove “geriatric pregnancy” from medical nomenclature and replace it with more accurate, patient-centered alternatives such as “advanced maternal age” or other non-judgmental descriptors already in clinical use.

“Our survey shows that patients are ready for change and the medical community must meet them there,” said Kerry Ayazi, administrative president of HRC Fertility. “California’s new fertility insurance mandate, SB729, going into effect on January 1, 2026, will expand access for thousands of residents. As we widen the doors to fertility care, we must also update the language patients encounter inside. Outdated terms should never stand in the way of compassionate, inclusive treatment.”

Methodology

HRC Fertility commissioned a nationwide survey in partnership with Propeller Insights. The survey was conducted online in August 2025, among a sample of 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, exploring perceptions of the term “geriatric pregnancy” and other outdated medical terminology related to fertility and family planning. Respondents were recruited through nationally recognized online research panels, with quotas set to reflect the U.S. Census on age, gender, region and ethnicity. The maximum margin of sampling error was +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

To ensure data quality, the study incorporated multiple safeguards, including the removal of respondents who rushed through the survey, gave patterned responses or failed attention checks designed to confirm thoughtful participation. Where appropriate, answer options were randomized to minimize order bias.

About Propeller Insights

Propeller Insights is a full-service market research firm based in Los Angeles. Using quantitative and qualitative methodologies to measure and analyze marketplace and consumer opinions, they work extensively across industries such as travel, brand intelligence, entertainment/media, retail and consumer packaged goods.

About HRC Fertility

HRC Fertility is one of the largest providers of advanced fertility treatments, boasting locations across the Bay Area as well as Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties, with its Las Vegas location coming soon. Welcoming individuals, couples and families from all walks of life, HRC Fertility is dedicated to helping preserve family building options for the future or start a journey towards family building now. For detailed information about HRC Fertility’s services, locations and providers, please visit: www.HavingBabies.com.

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CONTACT: Media Contact

Caroline Kamerschen

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KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: WOMEN GENERAL HEALTH HEALTH PARENTING FAMILY BABY/MATERNITY HOSPITALS CONSUMER

SOURCE: HRC Fertility

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PUB: 09/09/2025 09:03 AM/DISC: 09/09/2025 09:02 AM

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