I totally understand why people scoff at the term “geriatric pregnancy”. I accept. I understand. But why it upsets people so much is worth examining.
Geriatrics is the branch of health care that deals with problems and risks associated with aging. It comes directly from the science of gerontology, which is the study of the aging process and all its aspects — social and biological.
It’s not a term used by old-fashioned sexists to make women feel bad about themselves. It is literally a medical, clinical term. And, unfortunately, reproductive biology has not evolved along with society. Although it is extremely common for women in their mid-thirties to conceive and carry children, pregnancies have an increased risk of certain complications when a birth parent is 35 or older. Some of these complications are higher miscarriage ratesgenetic disorders and certain pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes.
Of course there should be a clinical term for this, because a “advanced maternal age” presents a serious health risk to the already serious health condition of the pregnancy. Speaking of which, ‘advanced maternal age’, the term now more commonly used, is no different or better than ‘geriatrics’, but at least it takes into account that advanced maternal age is only related to reproduction. .
The decline in fertility that occurs with advanced maternal age means that the quality and quantity of eggs in our ovaries decreases. While pregnancy after 35 is almost impossible, this does it means that there is a marked, rapid decline in our fertility at this age and beyond. This puts pregnant women at increased risk for complications.
We it may not be considered “geriatric” at 35+, but our ovaries are.
So why are so many people offended by the use of “geriatric pregnancy?”
The simple answer: of age.
“Geriatric” is only an insult if you find the concept of aging offensive. And while I’m not here to tell anyone how to feel about getting older, ageism has broad, negative consequences for people’s health and well-being.
And with the offensive way society as a whole treats women as they age—from being held to impossible beauty standards to discrimination in the workplace—it’s no wonder so many of us can be put off by even common terms used to describe the aging process.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), age can change the way we see ourselves, it can erode intergenerational solidarity, it can underestimate or limit our ability to benefit from what younger and older people can contribute populations and can affect our health, longevity and well-being, while also being far-reaching. – the achievement of economic consequences.
Age is associated with earlier death (by 7.5 years), poorer physical and mental health, and slower recovery from disability in older age. In the United States, one in seven dollars spent on health care each year for the eight most expensive conditions was due to the elderly ($63 billion in total).
Every person on earth has certain prejudices, and psychologists believe we are all old to varying degrees. It’s worth asking why the term “geriatrics” leaves such a sour taste in our mouths. Why do we associate growing up with such hostility? After all, growing up is a privilege.
Ageism—especially in health care—is a bias that not only harms older patients in general, but also harms our future selves. Someday, if we’re lucky enough, we’ll all be adults. The ageism we perpetuate now in no way helps us when we are in our seventies and eighties and deserve quality care.
The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) aims to educate people about the harm found in aging so we can fight it together.
“Everyone supports us and we can contribute to communities where age, ability, class, homophobia, racism, sexism, xenophobia and other forms of prejudice and discrimination no longer affect access, quality and outcomes in healthcare care for the elderly and their carers. », reports AGS.
You may not like being considered “old” as a pregnant woman, and you don’t have to. But we need to educate ourselves about the meaning of the nursing home—especially in relation to the term “geriatrics”—before we decide how to feel about it.
For those struggling with infertility, there is a lot of focus on turning 35 – and that can feel so stressful. It can feel downright frustrating with so much importance surrounding the age limit for pregnancy. These feelings are completely valid.
However, it is not obstetrics that must respond when phrases such as “age pregnancy” or “advanced maternal age” are used. It’s evolution. Which, unfortunately, isn’t likely to happen anytime soon. It’s 100% okay to feel frustrated by it. Of not It’s okay to use these feelings as a license to perpetuate aging, which can harm everyone — old, young, pregnant and not.
A version of this article was published in August 2022. It has been updated.
