Selena Gomez is an artist and an actress who has made sure to speak about her personal struggle with infertility for medical reasons. The 32-year-old actress recently spoke about the emotional experiences she had associated with the news of not being able to carry children during an interview with Fast Company. Gomez’s health struggles started with the diagnosis of lupus, an autoimmune disease that has brought about important changes in her life. She has spoken earlier about how lupus had ravaged her body physically and emotionally, having already gone under a kidney transplant in 2017.
Presently, Gomez spoke candidly in the interview about her heartbreak for not being able to conceive and carry children due to her health condition. She said the realization was really hard to reconcile in her mind since she had always imagined herself becoming a mother. Her revelations have struck a chord with her fans and also others facing similar trials-where one does not normally understand the immense emotional pain hidden behind issues of fertility.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease wherein, for no known reason, the body’s immune system literally attacks tissues-leading to a wide diffusion of inflammation that may involve any number of organs inside the body, including the kidneys, heart, and lungs. The treatments for lupus thus far have been chemotherapy-like drugs and immunosuppressants, which completely disrupt one’s ability to bear children. These treatments have been necessary in managing her illness and have left Gomez, unfortunately, incapable of becoming pregnant naturally.
Gomez also reflected on the emotional toll this realization has taken on her mental health. Over the years, she has spoken out candidly about her issues with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. The singer-actress said that not being able to take on the role of carrying children further convoluted her emotional psyche with times of utter sadness and grief. In fact, she was hopeful of becoming a mother, probably through other means like adoption or surrogacy.
The candidness of the pop star regarding her fertility problem brought waves of support among her fans that started to bring down barriers in conversation on the complexities of women’s health, infertility, and even medical issues. While in many eyes, she humanized herself by being honest, at the same time she empowers others to let their similar situations be heard. By using her platform for advocating about mental health and encouraging others to put a priority on the same, Gomez continues to inspire people.
