Motherhood is a wonderful journey, one that Only Murders In The Building actress and Rare Beauty founder Selena Gomez would love to experience. However, she recently revealed in her Vanity Fair October cover story interview that she won't be experiencing motherhood as she initially envisioned. "I haven't ever said this," she tells the magazine, "But I unfortunately can't carry my own children."
View this post on Instagram
Selena Gomez on coming to terms with infertility
"I have a lot of medical issues that would put my life and the baby's in jeopardy. That was something I had to grieve for a while." In 2015, Selena first revealed her medical condition called lupus. The autoimmune disease causes inflammation and pain throughout the body. She has since undergone multiple procedures, including chemotherapy and a kidney transplant, to address her condition and its numerous side effects.
Selena has also struggled with her mental health and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020. Currently available medications for bipolar disorder may pose potentially increased risks to a developing baby.
READ MORE: Selena Gomez Takes A Break From Touring To Fight Depression, Anxiety, And Panic Attacks
Selena isn't alone in her struggle with infertility. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infertility affects one in six people worldwide. In the Asia Pacific region, fertility rates have sharply declined since 1960. Closer to home in the Philippines, a 2013 survey revealed at least one in 10 Filipinos are infertile. It's a worldwide concern and emphasizes a need for more accessible fertility support systems and education.
View this post on Instagram
Despite her medical conditions, Selena says she’s still open to other ways to enjoy motherhood. She's been vocal about being open to adopt a child since her mother was adopted too. Surrogacy is another path.
"I find it a blessing that there are wonderful people willing to do surrogacy or adoption, which are both huge possibilities for me. It made me really thankful for the other outlets for people who are dying to be moms. I'm one of those people."
In the Philippines, around 237 children are adopted each year out of the millions of those orphaned, abandoned, or displaced. Surrogacy is also becoming less taboo among Filipinos, with celebrities such as Dr. Vicki Belo, Korina Sanchez, and Alice Dixson opening up about their surrogacy journeys in recent years.
"I'm excited for what that journey will look like, but it'll look a little different," Selena explained. “At the end of the day, I don't care. It'll be mine. It'll be my baby."
