On 14 May 1939, a five-year-old girl named Lina Medina gave birth to a son, Gerardo, by caesarean section in Peru. Medical assessments confirmed she was five years, seven months, and 21 days old at the time, making her the youngest mother in medical history. The procedure was performed by doctors Gerardo Lozada, Busalleu, and Colareta.
Early Development and Diagnosis
Born in 1933 in the Ticrapo District of Castrovirreyna Province, Medina was one of nine children born to Victoria Losea and silversmith Tiburelo Medina. At age five, her parents took her to a hospital in Pisco due to an expanding abdomen. Initially suspected to have a tumor, specialists in Lima later confirmed the pregnancy. Dr. Edmundo Escomel reported the case in La Presse Médicale, noting that Medina experienced menarche at eight months of age and had fully mature sexual organs resulting from precocious puberty.
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The child, Gerardo, weighed 2.7 kilograms at birth. Due to a small pelvis, a caesarean section was required for delivery. To address medical skepticism, professionals utilized biopsies, fetal skeleton X-rays, and clinical photographs to verify the pregnancy. Dr. Lozada documented the case with scientific films, though he rejected financial offers from American film studios seeking to profit from the minor. Reports from the time indicate that the identity of the father remained unknown, and local investigations into the family did not result in legal convictions.
Life and Career
Following the birth, Gerardo Lozada took custody of the boy, who was raised believing Medina was his older sister until he turned ten. Medina resided at Lozada's clinic in Lima, where she eventually secured employment as a stenographer. Utilizing shorthand and typewriter skills, she funded her son's education. Gerardo died in 1979 from bone marrow disease at age 40. In 1972, Medina married and gave birth to a second son. She has since maintained a private life, consistently declining media inquiries, including a 2002 request from Reuters.
Fast facts
- Born: 23 September 1933, Ticrapo District, Peru
- Son: Gerardo, born 14 May 1939
- Weight at birth: 2.7 kg
- Medical condition: Precocious puberty
- Occupations: Stenographer, secretary
- Citizenship: Peru
Questions readers ask
Who was the father of Lina Medina's child?
The identity of the father remains unknown, and Medina never provided information regarding the circumstances of her pregnancy.
Did the pregnancy cause any health complications for Lina Medina?
Medina possessed fully mature sexual organs at the time of delivery; however, her small pelvis necessitated a caesarean section.
