Florence Pugh is opening up about her health struggles, including having been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis, chronic conditions that affect one in ten women worldwide. Giving an interview on the SHE MD podcast Tuesday, the 28-year-old Oppenheimer actress shared that her double diagnosis at age 27 came as a total surprise. Like many women living with the under-diagnosed conditions, she thought acne, rogue body hair, and weight fluctuation was just “part of being a woman.” It turns out these symptoms were connected to the conditions.
The most surprising consequence of the diagnosis, though, came from their potential impact on her fertility. Pugh’s doctor advised her to do an “egg count,” typically referred to as ovarian reserve testing. This involves hormonal blood tests as well as ovarian ultrasounds to approximate the number of eggs in a person’s ovaries. Based on the results, Pugh decided to undergo egg freezing—a prospect that also threw her for a loop.
“At age 27, [I learned] that I need to get my eggs out, and do it quickly, which was just a bit of a mind-boggling realization, and 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,” Pugh says.
Egg freezing is a procedure that involves injecting oneself with hormones for several weeks, before undergoing a surgery that removes eggs from one’s ovaries. Then, the eggs are frozen and stored. When a person wants to become pregnant, they may be able to fertilize the frozen eggs and implant them in their ovaries years later. It can be an option to extend fertility for people who may want to conceive at an age when it becomes statistically more difficult to do so, or who have health conditions that may impact future fertility.
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PCOS and endometriosis fall into the latter camp. PCOS indicates a person may have abnormal hormone levels, while endometriosis causes tissue to grow throughout the reproductive system. Both can negatively impact fertility, as well as cause pain, heavy periods, and a host of other medical issues. Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise can be a way to manage symptoms. So on top of discovering surprising information about her egg count, Pugh had to consider her everyday life and habits.
“You find out you do have it, and you realize you have to change your lifestyle, you have to be proactive and think ahead into the future,” Pugh said. “I think [for] lots of young women, that’s not really necessarily what you’re thinking of doing when you’re in your 20s.”
There’s been a lot of promise surrounding egg freezing. However, supposed necessity for the procedure based on low egg count, as well as its ability to impact future fertility, is still being debated. A large,15-year study published in 2022 found the success rate of becoming pregnant from frozen eggs is 39 percent. Those figures could improve as people freeze their eggs when they are younger, a phenomenon that is on the rise.
Inspired by her own experience, Pugh now thinks greater education in school about fertility awareness is warranted. Pugh decided to undergo testing because she’d “had a few weird dreams” and “I had this sudden feeling that I should go and get everything checked.” Take it as a sign to not dismiss any concerns you’re having about your body, and make an appointment with your doctor.
