Selena Gomez, the renowned 32-year-old singer, actress, and philanthropist, recently shared a deeply personal revelation in an interview with Vanity Fair: she is unable to carry her own children due to significant medical concerns. This news adds another layer to Gomez’s openness about her health challenges, which she has candidly discussed in the past, including her battles with lupus and bipolar disorder.
In the interview, Gomez expressed that finding out she couldn’t have a safe pregnancy was a painful reality she had to come to terms with. “I haven’t ever said this, but I unfortunately can’t carry my own children,” Gomez told Vanity Fair. “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.” Her words reflect the depth of the emotional journey she has faced in accepting her situation.
Gomez has been vocal about her struggles with lupus, an incurable autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. This condition has significantly impacted her health, leading to severe complications that culminated in a kidney transplant in 2017, a procedure Gomez has previously shared publicly. The transplant was a pivotal moment in her battle against lupus, symbolizing both the severity of her condition and her resilience in facing it.
The star has also been transparent about her mental health, including her diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Her journey with bipolar disorder, which was covered extensively in her documentary “My Mind and Me,” has involved managing the condition with medication. In 2022, Gomez told Rolling Stone that the medication required to treat her bipolar disorder further complicates her ability to have a safe pregnancy. This combination of factors, both physical and mental, has led her to explore alternative paths to motherhood.
Despite the challenges, Gomez remains hopeful and open to the possibilities of surrogacy or adoption. “It’s not necessarily the way I envisioned it. I thought it would happen the way it happens for everyone,” she shared. Her remarks highlight the common but often unspoken expectation of a traditional path to parenthood, and the emotional work required to reframe those expectations. “I’m in a much better place with that. I find it a blessing that there are wonderful people willing to do surrogacy or adoption, which are both huge possibilities for me,” she continued, reflecting her optimism and gratitude for alternative routes to becoming a mother.
Gomez’s openness about her personal journey also emphasizes the importance of diverse family structures and the many ways one can experience parenthood. She expressed deep appreciation for adoption, noting that her mother, Mandy Teefey, was adopted—a fact that her family has always cherished. This connection reinforces her belief in the value of these options for those who are eager to become parents.
“It made me really thankful for the other outlets for people who are dying to be moms. I’m one of those people,” she said. “I’m excited for what that journey will look like, but it’ll look a little different. At the end of the day, I don’t care. It’ll be mine. It’ll be my baby.” Her resolve and optimism shine through as she looks forward to embracing her own path to motherhood, whatever shape it may take.
Currently in a relationship with music producer Benny Blanco, Gomez remains hopeful about the future. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the varied and deeply personal journeys that many people face on the road to parenthood. Through her candidness, Selena Gomez continues to inspire others, demonstrating resilience and hope amid life’s unexpected challenges.
