Most pregnant women hate this term – so why do people still use it?

(NEXSTAR) – The word "geriatric" may conjure images of retirement homes or the elderly, but in some cases, it's being used to describe women as young as 35.

For decades, childbearing women 35 and older have found themselves falling into the category of a "geriatric pregnancy."

"The term came from older obstetric literature, where risk was arbitrarily tied to age 35 based on when amniocentesis was first offered more broadly," said Dr. Esther Chung, an OBGYN and infertility specialist who practices at HRC Fertility in Southern California. (Amniocentesis is a type of prenatal testing more commonly offered to pregnant women over 35, or those with other risk factors for genetic issues.)

A recent survey commissioned by HRC Fertility found 65% of people thought the characterization heightened