Pasadena Fertility Clinic-Commissioned Survey Finds Majority of Americans Reject ‘Geriatric Pregnancy’ Label

A national online survey conducted by Propeller Insights and commissioned by HRC Fertility, which operates a clinic in Pasadena, found that most Americans oppose the continued use of the term “geriatric pregnancy,” citing its harmful impact on women’s confidence and emotional health. The study revealed that 65% of respondents believe the phrase increases anxiety for women over 35, while 68% said it undermines self-esteem during pregnancy. Only 6% supported keeping the term.

HRC Fertility, one of the nation’s largest fertility providers, is now calling on medical organizations to eliminate the label entirely.

“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. The company’s Pasadena clinic is located at 55 S. Lake Ave., 9th floor.

The survey, conducted in August, included 1,000 U.S. adults and used quotas aligned with U.S. Census data on age, gender, region and ethnicity. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Findings revealed potential consequences for doctor-patient relationships. Among women ages 35 to 44, 35% said they would definitely consider switching doctors if labeled with the term, while another 21% said their reaction would depend on tone and context. Parents were particularly critical, with over half describing the term as negative.

The study also highlighted generational and gender disparities in attitudes toward childbearing age. Nearly 72% of Gen Z women reported anxiety about age and childbearing, with 47% feeling pressured to have children before age 30. Gender double standards were evident: 79% of respondents said women are too old to have children after 45, compared to 55% who said the same for men. Additionally, 69% said men do not face the same judgment for having children after 35.

“The term ‘geriatric pregnancy’ may have once reflected medical caution, but barring exceptional circumstances, it’s an outdated label in today’s society and of modern parenthood,” said Dr. Lisa Becht of HRC Fertility’s Newport Beach office.

HRC Fertility is advocating for the use of more neutral clinical terms such as “advanced maternal age,” which are already used in practice but lack the stigma associated with “geriatric pregnancy.”

The timing of the survey coincides with California’s upcoming fertility insurance mandate, SB 729, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2026. The law is expected to expand access to fertility services for thousands of residents statewide.