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In a glum Instagram post showing herself on a gloomy beach, Rebel Wilson revealed her fertility struggles. The caption: “I got some bad news today and didn't have anyone to share it with...but I guess I gotta tell someone. To all the women out there struggling with fertility, I feel ya. The universe works in mysterious ways and sometimes it all doesn't make sense...but I hope there's light about to shine through all the dark clouds.”
Following the revelation, a multitude of supportive comments flooded Wilson’s post. “Wow, that is incredibly personal and brave of you to share. Infertility struggles are really tough mentally and physically,” one commenter wrote.
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In November, Wilson told E! News that turning 40 made her feel more conscious about starting a family. She also revealed her past struggles with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which she linked to weight gain that began at age 20. “It's just a hormone imbalance and you gain a lot of weight, usually, and that's how it manifested in me,” she said.
According to the U.S. Office on Women’s Health, PCOS affects one in 10 women of childbearing age and may result in infertility. Essentially, the hormonal imbalance inhibits the development or release of the eggs produced by the ovaries. It can cause missed or irregular periods, which can lead to infertility or the development of cysts.
As part of her self-proclaimed “Year of Health,” Wilson revealed her decision to freeze her eggs during an Instagram Live in December. “I was thinking about fertility and having good quality eggs in the bank, so I was like, ‘OK, I'm going to do this, I'm going to get healthy,’” she said.
For those struggling with similar issues, Haute MD fertility expert Dr. Mark Surrey said preserving one’s fertility — by freezing your eggs or sperm — remains an important choice for future family planning. The best candidates are healthy people who are producing healthy eggs and sperm because the quality of these gametes declines with age. Therefore, the ideal time to undergo this process is in your late 20s and early 30s.
“As all good career women out there should know, if that's something that interests you, it's a pretty good time to do it,” Wilson said about freezing her eggs. “Getting to 40s is kind of even leaving it a little too late. It's better to do it a bit earlier if you can.”
In addition to her healthy actions surrounding fertility, the 41-year-old actress has also focused on eating healthier foods and building her emotional health. “For me, the big thing was looking at my emotional eating and why I was doing it, and working on the mental side, which for me comes down to self-love really,” Wilson said. “It's so hard to teach someone about that...I don't think I've arrived at some final destination yet.”
