Rebel Wilson opens up about her fertility struggles: “I got some bad news today”
Carrie Bickmore has praised the actress for her bravery.
In a touching Instagram post, 41-year-old Australian actress, Rebel Wilson has opened up about her fertility struggle.
“I got some bad news today and didn’t have anyone to share it with…but I guess I gotta tell someone,” the Pitch Pefect star wrote alongside an image of herself standing in front of dark skies.
While Rebel didn’t explain the challenge she was facing, she continued: “To all the women out there struggling with fertility, I feel ya. The universe works in mysterious ways and sometimes it all doesn’t make sense…but I hope there’s light about to shine through all the dark clouds.”
Actress Rebel Wilson is struggling with infertility.
The comedian’s heartfelt post was met with an outpouring of support from followers who thanked her for sharing her journey and sent well wishes.
Feeling the love, Rebel updated her post, writing: “just wanted to say I woke up this morning and read through everyone’s kind messages and stories about their journeys and I can’t tell you how much that meant to me and has made me feel a lot better today. Social media for the win here in terms of creating connection when I was in a very lonely place. So thank you everyone 💕”
Last year, Rebel revealed she was 20 when she was polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, a hormonal disorder that can affect ovulation and fertility.
“I’ve been overweight for about 20 years. I started gaining weight when I was about 20. I had something called PCOS – polycystic ovarian syndrome – and I gained weight rapidly,” she told E!Online.
“It’s just a hormone imbalance and you gain a lot of weight usually and that’s how it manifested in me.
“Sometimes I feel sad, but then at the same time, I worked my body to my advantage. I like being all sized. It’s just now turning 40, I am more health-conscious and thinking of starting a family.”
Thinking about her fertility, Rebel decided to focus on her health in 2020.
Rebel also told fans during an Instagram Live that she’d frozen her eggs after dedicating to a healthier lifestyle, which she dubbed 2020 as her “Year of Health”.
“As all good career women out there should know, if that’s something that interests you, it’s a pretty good time to do it,” she said.
“Getting to (your) 40s is kind of even leaving it a little too late.
“It’s better to do it a bit earlier if you can.
“I was thinking about fertility and having good quality eggs in the bank, so I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to do this, I’m going to get healthy.”
“I am more health-conscious and thinking of starting a family.”
On Monday night, Carrie Bickmore praised Rebel for her honesty and bravery in sharing her story.
“It’s so hard when someone who’s that famous opens up like that, because then it’s hard when you decide to share so much,” she said.
“She should be able to share as little or as much as she wants on the terms she wants.
“It’s brave to go, ‘I will let the world in’. Something so deeply private.
“The comfort that will provide other women, knowing they are not alone.. so many women are affected by it. I hope she’s allowed to deal with it on her terms.”
The truth about conceiving in your 40s
A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have. As she ages her eggs age with her and their number and quality reduces over time.
Women younger than 30 have about a 20 percent chance of getting pregnant naturally each month. By age 40, the chance of pregnancy is about five percent each month.
Some people may believe fertility treatment is the answer to pregnancy later in life but with age, treatments like IVF (in vitro fertilisation) and ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection) success also declines.
Using donor eggs or frozen embryos to try to conceive is another option.
Pregnancy itself can also be more challenging as you age and any pregnancy over age 40 is considered high risk. Your doctor will monitor you and your baby closely for the following:
- high blood pressure – this may increase your risk of a pregnancy complication called preeclampsia
- gestational diabetes
- birth defects, such as Down sydrome
- miscarriage
- low birth weight
- ectopic pregnancy, which sometimes happens with IVF
If you are in your forties and wanting to conceive, it might be challening but it’s definitely possible!
