Warning: This article contains discussion of fertility issues which some readers may find distressing.
Florence Pugh revealed she had to freeze her eggs at the age of 27 after her diagnosis led to a ‘mind-boggling’ realisation.
The now 28-year-old recently appeared on the SHE MD Podcast where she opened up about her reproductive health and future fertility decisions. Pugh’s choice to have her eggs frozen came after being diagnosed with two health conditions.
“She asked if I’d ever had an egg count down,” Pugh recalled of her meeting with Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi. “And I was like, ‘No what do you mean? I'm so young. Why do I need an egg count?’”
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And after undergoing this, ‘Dr A’ told the celebrity she had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis.
PCOS is a common condition that affects how a woman’s ovaries work and while there currently isn’t a cure, it can be treated. But without treatment, some patients are unable to get pregnant.
Similarly, people with endometriosis may also have difficulty getting pregnant. About one in 10 women in the UK have this chronic condition, which occurs where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body. It can have a major impact on people’s lives.
“It was just so bizarre because my family are baby making machines,” Pugh explained.
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“When mum had babies into her 40s, my gran had babies throughout. I just never assumed that I was going to be in any way different and that there was going to be an issue with it. It just really wasn't a red flag for me.”
However, the diagnosis changed much of that for her as she ‘learned completely different information’ – “Age 27, that I need to get my eggs out and do it quickly, which was just a bit of a mind-bobbling realisation. One that I'm really lucky and glad that I found out when I did because I've been wanting kids since I was a child.”
When Pugh explained to Dr A she wanted to wait as many as five years before having a baby, it was suggested she take the steps to freeze her eggs.
If you have been affected by the contents of this article, please find more information and support via Endometriosis UK on their website, or call 0808 808 2227.
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If you are worried about infertility, you can visit the NHS site for more information here. Or for free, impartial support, call Fertility Network UK on 0121 323 5025 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, or 07816 086694 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between 10am and 4pm.
Topics: Health, Florence Pugh, Celebrity
Jess Battison