“Only Murders In The Building” star Selena Gomez revealed that her ongoing health issues make it dangerous for her to carry her own children should she plan to have them.
The actor and singer shared the information in an interview with Vanity Fair published on Monday while discussing her role in the film “Emilia Pérez.” Gomez, 32, plays a young mother in the crime-musical.
It was also brought up as Gomez was asked about her relationship with songwriter Benny Blanco, who told Howard Stern in May that he wants to have kids in the future.
Gomez explained that her chronic health issues, which includes a lupus diagnosis she’s publicly shared, makes it risky for her to carry a baby to term.
“I haven’t ever said this but I unfortunately can’t carry my own children,” Gomez shared. “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.”
She did not go into detail about the complications that would make it difficult for her to safely carry her own children, though she required a kidney transplant in 2017 and has previously undergone chemotherapy to treat her lupus.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means your immune system attacks your own body and causes several complications, including organ damage, according to the Mayo Clinic.
A successful pregnancy for people with lupus is possible, but it comes with increased complication risks, according to The Lupus Foundation of America. The complications include kidney problems, blood clots, high-blood pressure which can lead to preeclampsia, and increased risk of stillbirth.
“It is best to wait until your lupus is minimally active and your symptoms are under good control on medications that are safe to take during pregnancy,” the foundation website says.
Gomez told Vanity Fair that while it’s not the way she envisioned having children, she is in a “much better place” about the situation.
“I find it a blessing that there are wonderful people willing to do surrogacy or adoption, which are both huge possibilities for me,” Gomez said. “It made me really thankful for the other outlets for people who are dying to be moms. I’m one of those people.”
Gomez’s own mother was adopted, she said. She added that it doesn’t matter how her children come into her life because “it’ll be my baby.”