Singer and actress Selena Gomez has revealed that she may not be able to have children of her own. In an interview, the 32-year-old pop star said she has several medical conditions that could increase the risk of pregnancy complications.

“I never said that, but unfortunately I can’t carry my own children. I have a number of medical conditions that could put my life and my baby’s life at risk. That was something I had to live with for a while,” she told Vanity Fair.

In 2013, Selena Gomez was diagnosed with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy tissue. This inflammatory disease can complicate pregnancy by causing preeclampsia, a condition in which blood pressure is high and a pregnant woman has protein in her urine.

Gomez was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder several years ago. In 2018, when Gomez was in her mid-20s, she said she began hearing voices that eventually led to psychosis.

Doctors explained that women with autoimmune disorders may face various difficulties when trying to conceive, as these diseases can directly or indirectly affect fertility and pregnancy outcomes.

“When the immune system inadvertently targets the body’s own tissues, it can have a negative impact on reproductive health,” Dr Kalyani Shrimali, fertility consultant at Nova IVF Fertility, Indore, tells IndiaToday.in.

Sometimes, the inflammation caused by these conditions affects the reproductive organs, making it harder for women to maintain a healthy uterine environment for implantation or to ovulate regularly.

Blood clotting problems caused by autoimmune diseases such as APS (antiphospholipid syndrome) can lead to recurrent miscarriages or difficulty carrying a pregnancy to term, Dr. Shrimali said.

Other health conditions that can have a negative impact on reproductive health are lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Dr Nirmala M, Obstetrician & Gynecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Whitefield, Bengaluru said there are several other reasons for complicated pregnancy.

“Pregnancy-specific circumstances such as the mother’s age, lifestyle decisions and pre-existing medical conditions can make conception difficult. Children of women suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension or thyroid disorders have a higher risk of developing these diseases,” said Dr Nirmala.

For example, uncontrolled diabetes can cause a baby with abnormalities at birth or a higher birth weight, which can make delivery more difficult.

Dr Nirmala cautioned that preeclampsia is a dangerous disorder that can damage the liver and kidneys and increase the chances of premature delivery. It can also be caused by high blood pressure during pregnancy.

To guarantee a successful outcome, a team of health specialists should regularly monitor pregnant women with autoimmune diseases.

Dr. Nirmala said maternal age increases the risk of miscarriage and premature birth, and “the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome increases, especially in women over 35.”

“Growth problems, low birth weight baby and impaired foetal growth are some of the problems that may arise due to lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol and unhealthy eating habits,” he said.

Given these medical challenges, Selena Gomez’s revelation highlights the importance of understanding the impact of autoimmune and chronic conditions on reproductive health, and how different factors affect pregnancy.