“Florence Pugh’s life completely changed” after she was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis last year. Speaking on the “She MD” podcast this past Tuesday, the 28-year-old actress shared that she made the decision to freeze her eggs upon learning that both conditions could lead to infertility.
“I had this sudden feeling that I needed to check everything,” Pugh explained. “I had some weird dreams, and I felt like my body was trying to tell me something. So, I asked my closest friends if they knew a great gynecologist, and that’s when I met [Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi].”
The Shocking Discovery
During her visit, Dr. Aliabadi—a world-renowned OB-GYN and one of the podcast’s hosts—asked if Pugh had ever “counted her eggs.” Pugh admitted she hadn’t.
“I was like, ‘What do you mean? I’m young. Why would I need to count my eggs?’” the “Midsommar” star recalled.
The test results revealed she had both PCOS and endometriosis, explaining the daily pain she had been experiencing.
“It’s so strange because my family are like baby-making machines. My mom had children in her 40s, and my grandma had kids in her 40s… she had a lot of them,” Pugh said. “I never thought I’d be different in any way, and it would be an issue.”
Though Pugh had never been concerned about having children before, her diagnosis changed everything.
“Then, of course, I learned a totally different set of information at 27, that I needed to get my eggs out quickly,” she said. “It was a bit of a confusing realization. But I’m really lucky and grateful to have found out early because I’ve always wanted kids.”
Dr. Aliabadi explained that untreated endometriosis could impact both the quantity and quality of eggs. In contrast, while women with PCOS often have an abundance of eggs, their quality declines after age 30. Hence, she urged Pugh to freeze her eggs as soon as possible.
Having taken these preventive steps, the “Little Women” actress hopes to begin her family within the next five years.
Sharing Her Journey to Help Others
Despite the upheaval her diagnosis caused, Pugh is grateful for the opportunity to share her experience with others.
“I was able to tell my friends what I was going through,” she noted. “Since then, I think two or three of my friends have gone for check-ups because of what I found out, and they discovered they had similar issues.”
She added, “If just one small piece of information I learned helps other women check their health, it’s worth it.”
In a recent interview with British Vogue, the Oscar-nominated actress reflected on how her role in “We Live in Time” inspired her to “take charge of her decisions and truly live”—especially when it comes to life outside her career.
“I went through a lot of weird relationship stuff last year, and I think part of the story is about not being passive, not letting things just happen,” she said. “I want to seek love, and I want to have kids.”
Pugh concluded, “I’ve always thought about having a family. I’ve wanted kids ever since I was young. I love the idea of having a big family.”
