Florence Pugh is sharing her journey with fertility and how it led to a life-changing decision.
The 28-year-old actress recently revealed that she’s been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis—conditions that can cause infertility. To safeguard her future family plans, Florence took the proactive step of freezing her eggs.
The recommendation came from her doctor, Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, during a visit that proved to be far more pivotal than she expected.
“She asked if I’d ever had an egg count done. And I was like, ‘No, what do you mean? I’m so young. Why do I need an egg count?’” Florence recalled in an interview with SHE MD.
That initial question set the stage for a series of revelations. Following the egg count, Florence was diagnosed with both PCOS and endometriosis. Knowing Florence hoped to wait a few years before having children, her doctor suggested freezing her eggs as a precaution.
“It was just so bizarre because my family are baby-making machines,” Florence shared. “When Mom had babies into her 40s, my gran had babies throughout. I just never assumed that I was going to be in any way different and that there was going to be an issue with it. It just really wasn’t a red flag for me.”
The reality of her diagnosis at 27 came as a shock.
“Then of course, I learned completely different information, age 27, that I need to get my eggs out and do it quickly, which was just a bit of a mind-bobbling realization,” she said. “One that I’m really lucky and glad that I found out when I did because I’ve been wanting kids since I was a child.”
While Florence had heard of PCOS before, she admitted she didn’t know much about it.
“I’d heard of it,” she explained. “I didn’t think that it was something that is common. I really just thought that it was something that you’d feel and that you’d know you had and that it wasn’t really a worry.”
Her diagnosis prompted her to rethink her lifestyle and priorities.
“Then of course, you find out you do [have PCOS] and you realize you have to change your lifestyle and you have to figure out when you can be proactive and think ahead into the future, which I think for lots of young women, that’s not really necessarily what you’re thinking of doing when you’re in your 20s or even younger,” she said.
The experience has also allowed Florence to spark conversations among her friends and raise awareness about fertility health.
“I’ve been able to tell my friends about what I’m going through,” she shared. “And since then, I think two or three of my friends have gone to go and get checked because of my findings, and they’ve also found that they have the same thing. So already just by me learning the tiniest bit of information, it’s led for other women to go and check to see if they also have the same.”
Florence’s candid story underscores the importance of early awareness and taking control of your health, even when it feels like life’s big decisions are still far away. Her openness is already making a difference, encouraging others to get informed and take proactive steps for their future.
