Toyosi Adesanya: How I lost multiple pregnancies, had failed IVFs

Toyosi Adesanya, the actress famous in the Yoruba film industry, has opened up about her struggle with pregnancy losses and infertility.

The actress, in an interview with Talk To B, disclosed that her challenges began in 2007 when she lost her first pregnancy shortly after her wedding.

The film star recalled having a disturbing dream where she saw blood, which turned out to be a reality when she woke up. Her then-husband attributed the loss to stress.

Determined to conceive again, Adesanya said she sought help from a traditional healer in 2008, courtesy of her colleague Fathia Balogun. Unfortunately, she lost her second pregnancy.

Undeterred, the actress said she underwent laparoscopy and two failed IVF attempts in 2009 and 2011. She narrated how she sold her valuables to afford the procedures, which cost N900,000 – N1 million at the time.

“I got married in 2007 and I was already pregnant during our wedding ceremony,” she said.

“Two months after we travelled back to Akure where my husband stays, I saw blood in my dream and also when I woke up. I told my husband (now ex), and he said I might have lost the pregnancy due to stress.

“Meanwhile, I have not gone to any location, the one I had to go to was till December 2007 and I already lost the pregnancy in September 2007.

“In 2008, Fathia Balogun encouraged me to try for pregnancy again and introduced me to a woman.

“I went to the woman, she gave me some herbal medications and I got pregnant again. After a while, I lost the pregnancy.

“Then, I went to do laparoscopy and that is how I started the journey of trying to give birth.

“In 2009, I tried IVF but it failed. Then IVF cost N900,000 to N1 million so I sold all I owned, including my gold, to do the IVF but it failed.

“I tried IVF again in 2011 and that failed as well so I stopped and started waiting on God.”

Adesanya said she became pregnant again in 2019 but faced a threatened abortion.

The actress said her doctor advised her to terminate the pregnancy. She said this was after a disturbing dream where people with knives threatened to abort her pregnancy.

“… In January 2019, I got pregnant again but I did not tell my husband (now ex). Then I had a dream where some people with knives were saying they would abort my pregnancy,” she added.

“So, I called my pastor. He prayed for me and told me to leave the house I was staying in Akure.

“Then someone introduced me to a doctor in Lagos. When I got to the doctor, he confirmed I was pregnant but told me I had threatened abortion.

“He admitted me for two days but later advised me to evacuate the pregnancy.

“…After leaving my husband due to our marital issues, I got into a new relationship. And in 2022, I got pregnant again but lost it. After that, my doctor advised me so for now, I have forgone pregnancy.”

Adesanya delved into the Yoruba film industry over thirty years ago.

She has starred in films like ‘Alagogo Ide’, ‘Oru’, ‘Iwo’ and ‘Adeda’. She has also been recognised for her talent.