Naga Munchetty Reveals the Brutal Reason She Chose Not to Have Kids

BBC Star Reveals the Brutal Reason She Chose Not to Have Kids and Why Doctors Ignored Her Pain for Decades

BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty is getting real about something incredibly personal — and painful. The longtime broadcaster has opened up about her 30-year battle with a condition that left her screaming in agony and fighting to be believed. It’s also part of the reason she’s decided not to have children.

Naga, 50, first revealed she had adenomyosis in May 2023, but it took years of excruciating pain before doctors finally gave her a proper diagnosis in September 2022. The condition, which causes the tissue that normally lines the womb to grow into its muscular wall, is not life-threatening but can bring relentless pain, heavy periods, and other severe symptoms.

She’s now using her voice to shed light on how women are often dismissed in medical settings. Her new book, It’s Probably Nothing, is all about pushing for better healthcare for women and making sure their pain isn’t brushed aside.

In an interview with Saga Magazine, Naga also opened up about her and her husband’s decision not to have children — a choice that wasn’t easy, especially for her mum. She and her husband, ITV consultant James Hagger, have been married since 2004 and live in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.

“We liked the life we had and we wanted to pursue that life,” Naga explained. “Parenthood is expensive, it’s exhausting and a commitment for life.” She shared that her mum initially struggled with the idea of not having grandchildren but has since become one of her biggest supporters.

Her mum now tells her, “Naga, it would have been wonderful to have grandchildren, but equally, it’s wonderful seeing what you’re doing and who you’ve become.” Naga reflected on that sentiment, saying, “Isn’t that what we want for our children?”

But behind her composed on-screen presence is someone who’s been managing a level of pain most people can’t imagine. Hosting a national morning show while battling adenomyosis isn’t easy, and Naga admits she often powers through with painkillers and sheer determination.

“People see me as a trusted source of information,” she said. “No one’s interested if I’m feeling unwell.” She added, “So I will not let it affect my work. I’m stubborn as hell.”

She described a particularly traumatic episode three years ago that led to her eventual diagnosis. After a night out, she was hit with such intense pain that she collapsed at her front door. Her husband had to carry her upstairs. She was soaked in sweat, crying out in pain, unable to move.

When she called 999 for help, she says the operator told her to “just take two paracetamol.” Exhausted and in despair, she simply thanked them and hung up — something she now deeply regrets not challenging.

Although a hysterectomy was suggested as a treatment option, Naga decided against it. The idea of undergoing a major operation, taking eight weeks off work, and entering early menopause didn’t sit right with her. “Just because a woman’s a certain age, you can’t say, ‘Oh, you don’t need that bit of your body anymore,’” she said.

Naga’s been candid about her pain, even discussing it live on her Radio 5 show. “Right now as I sit here talking to you, I am in pain,” she said. “Constant, nagging pain… I’ll have some level of pain for the entire show and the rest of the day until I go to sleep.”

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