(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 anxiety for pregnant women in their 30s and 40s. Sixty-eight percent said it also undermined pregnant women's self confidence. But despite its negative associations, the term "geriatric pregnancy" is still being used in medical settings and by many health care practitioners. Lately, people have started saying "advanced maternal age" as an alternate, but even that can be outdated, Chung said. "Today we know risk is better described on a continuum, not with a hard cutoff," she said. Fertility declines more gradually, starting slowly in the early 30s and then more rapidly in the late 30s and 40s, Chung explained. But even young people can have complicated, high-risk pregnancies. Plus, there are more options today for women who choose to get pregnant later in life. Egg freezing, IVF and other advances in prenatal care make it easier and safer for women older than 35 to have a healthy pregnancy than was once possible. Chung advocates for a more neutral and nuanced way to describe pregnancy. Saying "pregnancy at age 35" isn't much harder – and is more accurate than saying "geriatric." "Words matter," she said. "The term 'geriatric pregnancy' can make women feel older or less capable than they really are. Most women in their 30s and 40s who want children are healthy and resilient. Our job is to provide honest, individualized risk information and thoughtful, evidence-based medical care, without layering on stigma."