To wonder when doctors stop referring to you as young

[Beatinghearts]

I’m coming up to 26 and I’m still referred to as a young lady

'Young lady' is just an expression. It's not something doctors in particular call people.

I got a mole type thing on my back checked out by the GP. Nothing to worry about. Delightfully told me it was an old age mole.

Then he admitted he’d recently diagnosed one on his wife.

To which I had to ask what medical term he had used.

Reader, he told his wife she had an old age moles.

Brave, brave man.

Probably depends on the specialism - what's considered young for someone doing obstetrics is going to be different to osteoporosis

26 is young!

I would not be calling someone a young lady if they looked more than 40 to be honest.

This reminds me of that hideously patronising thing some people say to much older people. 'Here's Maud, she is 89 years YOUNG!'

Or if a dating show is on and they have elderly people on, and they say 'I'm Fred I'm 85 years young!'

^^

It really REALLY fucks me off.

@Ilovemaisie

I had my baby when I was almost 33. I vaguely remember being told that 34 is when they start calling you an 'older mother' (there's a Latin phrase I think that goes on your maternity records !!)

Primigravida is it?

well 26 is young full stop

am 36 and still get called young

although recently i was told by a doctor that i look younger than my age - which annoyed me a little tbh!

Depends on whether the doctor specialises in paediatrics or gerontology.

Primigravida is it?
Primigravida is just "first time pregnant".

@Confusedaboutlots

I am 36 and still get called young.

although recently i was told by a doctor that i look younger than my age - which annoyed me a little tbh!

Why? Why did it annoy you? Would you rather the doctor said you look like you're 50?

Funny how so many people on here have many people telling them they look younger than their age, but no-one ever comes out with any tales of people mistaking them for 10 years older!

I just turned 24 and thought this. Here I am feeling ancient thanks to lockdown making the end of my early 20s dire, but weirdly enough every medical professional I have spoken to recently has referenced how young I am !

@TrinidadQueen

A relative who is midthirties always gets told she is young by doctors. Maybe in medical terms it's different as I don't consider that young.

Jesus. Doctors see people all ages. Mid 30s is young compared to say someone who was in their 80s.

If someone died of cancer at 36 you wouldn’t say - oh well they lived a long life.

@forinborin

Primigravida is it? Primigravida is just "first time pregnant".

Oh yeah, I am thinking of ELDERLY primigravida!

And that is...

A woman who has a baby over the age of 35.

My doctor's letters referred me as young up to 39. That word got removed from 40.

In my view:

18-24 is young adult
25-39 is adult
40-64 is middle aged
65+ is older adults

@littlepattilou
To be fair, there are risks in having first baby after 35. Obviously, it is not a cliff edge, but I think it is good that it is flagged to the attention of other practitioners. Even though the lingo is brutal

Having said that, I realised that I actually have very little understanding about why second+ babies are less risky than the first... so off to read on the topic.

@LadyWhistledownsQuill

Probably depends on the specialism - what's considered young for someone doing obstetrics is going to be different to osteoporosis

Agreed, I'm 44 and the rheumatologist calls me 'young' but I imagine an obstetrician would call me 'geriatric'.

@TrickorTreacle your gaps might be too wide. There’s a huge difference between a 25 year old and 39 year old. Likewise 18 and 24.

I'm 49 and a supermarket delivery person asked to see my ID. After rearranging my shocked face and seeing their shoulders shaking, I joined in with the laughter! I asked if they would be my new best friend 😁

@LaurieFairyCake

My DH went to the doctor at 39 with various issues - he got 'hey you're young, we will work out what's wrong'

At 41 he went with the same issues and got

"You're over 40, you now have to expect things to break down"

I find that frustrating about the medical profession.

I remember a consultant referring me to another consultant and he said ‘I’m referring a very pleasant young lady.. ‘ I was 45! I looked younger though but he did have my notes in front of him so knew my age.

I’m a doctor. In my mind young is probably under 70 so you’ve a while yet!

We’re not categorising you by maturity but in my specialty by the types of treatment you might be strong enough to withstand and how long you might live to benefit from them.