Florence Pugh is discussing her health challenges, which include being diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis, two chronic conditions that affect 1 in 10 women globally. During an interview on the SHE MD podcast, the 28-year-old actress from “Oppenheimer” revealed that discovering her double diagnosis at 27 years old was unexpected. Similar to many women facing these often misdiagnosed conditions, she previously believed symptoms like acne, excessive body hair, and weight changes were just normal aspects of womanhood. However, these symptoms were actually linked to her conditions.
However, the most surprising revelation was the potential impact on her fertility. Pugh’s doctor recommended she undergo an “egg count,” also known as ovarian reserve testing. This process includes hormonal blood tests and ovarian ultrasounds to estimate the number of eggs in the ovaries. Based on the results, Pugh chose to undergo egg freezing—a decision that caught her off guard.
“Realizing at 27 that I needed to harvest my eggs quickly was quite a shock, and I am grateful that I found out when I did because I have always dreamt of having children since I was young,” Pugh shared.
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.
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.
