Fox News Doc Says Not Enough ’15 to 19′ Year-Olds Are Having Kids: ‘The Fertility Is Down’
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Fox News medical contributor Marc Siegel made some eyebrow-raising comments lamenting that birth rates are down among teenagers aged 15 to 19.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/45445434

Fox News Senior Medical Analyst Marc Siegel made some eyebrow-raising comments lamenting that birth rates are down among teenagers aged 15 to 19.

On Thursday, the National Center for Health Statistics reported that the U.S. fertility rate fell to another record low. The agency reported that the number of births per 1,000 women of childbearing age declined from 53.8 in 2024 to 53.1 last year. The latest figure represents a continuation of a decades-long decline in fertility rates.

Siegel joined Friday’s edition of America’s Newsroom, where Dana Perino said that while the continuing trend is not surprising, “the numbers might feel a little shocking.”

  • scarabic@lemmy.worldEnglish
    410·
    1 个月前

    We had kids in our 30s and one of the delivery ward doctors we spoke to told my wife “Your age classifies you as geriatric but don’t take the label too hard. You’re just not 15 anymore.” And I remember saying “15? Gee do you see a lot of 15 year olds having babies in here?” And she said oh yes, all the time, and “They’re the superstar athletes of giving birth. In, out, easy, done.”

    I guess my point is that while we consider sex a crime before 18, nature doesn’t care and 15 year olds are not merely eligible but in some ways at human peak for fertility.

    It’s uncomfortable, but it’s biology. I am not surprised if 15yos are making a real contribution to fertility rates in aggregate. I’m not saying that’s right and we should encourage it. Again, just uncomfortable realities here.

    • thisisdee@lemmy.worldEnglish
      61·
      1 个月前

      How long ago was this and in which country? I recently gave birth in my 30s and I was told it’s the norm these days (in fact average age of first time mom in my area is 32 last year). Even in my late 30s, I have a lower complication and mortality rate than teen pregnancies. The best age from what I was told is early to mid 20s, biologically. But for most people emotionally and financially late 20s is actually better.

      • Beesbeesbees@lemmy.worldEnglish
        7·
        1 个月前

        I’m sure they’re making that entirely up. No one is a super star on their first birth, let alone someone who is physically not finished developing.

    • andz@lemmy.worldEnglish
      22·
      1 个月前

      How much gas was that doctor huffing in between getting the word geriatric wrong and declaring 15 year olds as superstars at giving birth?

      …or you, for that matter, because none of that shit is true, hopefully.

      • scarabic@lemmy.worldEnglish
        22·
        1 个月前

        getting the word geriatric wrong

        Such a rude comment hardly deserves a reply, but it gives me pleasure to inform assholes when they are dead wrong:

        Cleveland Clinic

        “Advanced maternal age” is a term that describes anyone who is 35 or older and pregnant. … Advanced maternal age is the newer and preferred name for a geriatric pregnancy.

        Nebraska Medicine

        We define advanced maternal age (formerly geriatric pregnancy) as those who are 35 years or older at their estimated delivery date.

        Madison Women’s Clinic

        Have you heard the term; geriatric pregnancy? No, it doesn’t mean your grandma is expecting. Maybe it’s you your 35 year old friend. A geriatric pregnancy is just that, a woman over age 35 that conceives a child.

        Now run along and eat shit.

        • andz@lemmy.worldEnglish
          12·
          1 个月前

          “Geriatric pregnancy” is an outdated term for pregnancy at age 35 or older, sure. Haven’t been used by anyone seriously in a while. You managed to Google up some old ass sources, all of them American (surprise) but the rest of the world moved on a while back.

          But hey, medically you’re living in something of a third world country (not your fault, but it is what it is) so it makes sense that your doctor would use outdated terms I guess. Goes hand in hand with getting 15 year olds pregnant and liking it. She must’ve thought you were crazy for being so old and all.

          You make a big deal of telling us how uncomfortable it makes you, which is interesting since you also seem to really believe 15 year olds are suited to get pregnant and give birth. Can’t help but to wonder about these conclusions of yours.

          As to your amusing insult, not sure why you’d think eating shit would be a good idea since you’re nominally an adult, but it’s not really healthy so I think I’ll pass and I’d advise you to do the same but hey, you do you. Just don’t do any 15 year olds.