Selena Gomez Says Her Health Issues Will Make Her Path to Motherhood ‘Look a Little Different’

Selena Gomez is publicly sharing her intentions to become a mom for the first time. In a profile published today on Vanity Fair, the actress, singer, and mental health advocate opened up about the challenges she’ll face on the path to parenthood.

“I haven’t ever said this…but I unfortunately can’t carry my own children,” Gomez says. “I have a lot of medical issues that would put my life and the baby’s in jeopardy.”

Gomez has been open about her struggles with the autoimmune disease lupus since she was diagnosed in 2013. Her diagnosis led her to take time off from her vibrant entertainment career to undergo chemotherapy. A few years later, she received a kidney transplant.

“I unfortunately can’t carry my own children. I have a lot of medical issues that would put my life and the baby’s in jeopardy.” —Selena Gomez, actress, singer, mental health advocate

Gomez was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020, inspiring her to co-found the mental health organization Wondermind. Following that diagnosis and treatment plan, the reality of possible infertility set in.

“That was something I had to grieve for a while,” she says. “[But] I’m in a much better place with that…”

Gomez previously shared that she takes two medications to treat her bipolar disorder, which affects her fertility. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are a few bipolar medications that are directly linked to birth defects. Some medicines can also be passed to the baby via breastmilk and cause harm.

Despite her health challenges, that’s not stopping Gomez from fulfilling her desire to experience motherhood. “However I’m meant to have them, I will,” she says of her future children. “I find it a blessing that there are wonderful people willing to do surrogacy or adoption, which are both huge possibilities for me. It made me really thankful for the other outlets for people who are dying to be moms. I’m one of those people. I’m excited for what that journey will look like, but it’ll look a little different.”