Nigerian Actress Toyosi Adesanya Loses 5 Pregnancies, Breaks Silence On Infertility

Nigerian Actress Toyosi Adesanya Loses 5 Pregnancies, Breaks Silence on Infertility

Yoruba actress Toyosi Adesanya recently opened up about her deeply personal and heartbreaking journey with pregnancy loss and infertility. In an interview with Talk To B, she courageously shared the challenges she has faced since 2007, including multiple miscarriages, failed fertility treatments, and the emotional toll it has taken on her life and career.

Adesanya’s journey began shortly after her wedding in 2007, when she became pregnant with her first child. However, this moment of joy was tragically short-lived. She recounted a vivid and haunting dream she had during that time—a dream filled with the unsettling image of blood. When she awoke, the nightmare became reality. “Two months after our wedding, we traveled back to Akure where my husband lived. I saw blood in my dream, and when I woke up, I saw it in real life,” Adesanya explained. Her then-husband, whom she has since divorced, attributed the miscarriage to stress, though Adesanya had not been working at the time.

Determined to conceive again, Adesanya sought help from alternative sources. In 2008, her colleague and fellow actress, Fathia Balogun, introduced her to a traditional healer. Balogun’s encouragement gave her hope, and the healer’s herbal remedies seemed to work at first—Adesanya became pregnant again. Yet, just as before, this pregnancy ended in heartbreak. It was a devastating blow, but it only fueled her determination to keep trying.

In 2009, Adesanya decided to explore medical options, starting with laparoscopy, a procedure commonly used to diagnose fertility issues. This marked the beginning of her long and challenging journey with assisted reproductive technology. Later that same year, she underwent her first in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Back then, the procedure was prohibitively expensive, costing between N900,000 and N1 million. Adesanya, driven by her desire to have a child, sold her possessions, including her valuable gold jewelry, to afford the treatment.

Unfortunately, the IVF attempt was unsuccessful. Adesanya recalled the immense disappointment that followed: “I tried IVF for the first time in 2009, but it failed. I had sold everything I owned just to pay for it.” Despite the setback, she remained resilient and tried IVF again in 2011, only to face yet another failure. After two failed IVF attempts, Adesanya made the difficult decision to stop pursuing medical interventions, placing her faith in a higher power. “I stopped and started waiting on God,” she said, expressing her deep reliance on her faith during this trying time.

Years passed before Adesanya became pregnant again, this time in 2019. It was a moment of renewed hope, but the joy was again marred by fear. She revealed that she kept the pregnancy a secret from her then-husband, having learned from her past experiences. Yet, once again, her dreams became a source of distress. In a terrifying nightmare, she saw people armed with knives, threatening to abort her pregnancy. Frightened, she turned to her pastor for support, who prayed for her and advised her to leave the home she shared with her husband in Akure.

Following the pastor’s guidance, Adesanya traveled to Lagos, where she sought medical advice from a doctor. The doctor confirmed her pregnancy but delivered troubling news: she was experiencing a threatened abortion. After spending two days under medical supervision, the doctor ultimately advised her to terminate the pregnancy for her own health and safety. Adesanya’s strength was tested once again, but she chose to prioritize her well-being and followed the doctor’s recommendation.

Her marriage ended, and she moved on with her life, but her longing for motherhood persisted. In 2022, Adesanya entered a new relationship and once again found herself pregnant. Sadly, the pattern of loss repeated, and she suffered another miscarriage. This time, however, her doctor gave her life-altering advice. After everything she had endured—the surgeries, the treatments, the heartache—her doctor suggested that she stop trying to conceive, for the sake of her physical and emotional health.

“For now, I have let go of the idea of pregnancy,” she said, reflecting on her decision. It was a moment of acceptance, a realization that sometimes the most courageous thing one can do is let go.

Adesanya’s journey through infertility and loss is a testament to her resilience and strength. Despite the profound challenges she has faced, she has continued to build a successful career in the Yoruba film industry, which she joined over 30 years ago. Throughout her career, she has starred in numerous popular films, including Alagogo Ide, Oru, Iwo, and Adeda, earning recognition for her talent and contribution to Nollywood.

For Adesanya, sharing her story is not just about her personal healing—it is also a way to reach others who may be going through similar struggles. Infertility and pregnancy loss are often topics shrouded in silence and stigma, particularly in African cultures where motherhood is deeply intertwined with a woman’s identity. By speaking openly about her experiences, Adesanya hopes to create a space where these conversations can take place without judgment.

Her story is a reminder that behind the glamorous facade of fame, many people are fighting battles unseen by the public. In Adesanya’s case, her struggle with infertility has been long, painful, and deeply personal. Yet, through it all, she has found the strength to continue pursuing her passions, both on and off the screen.