Not everything goes as planned for individuals who aspire to be parents. While some women find it easy to become pregnant, many women struggle with fertility, and these celebrities who have been transparent about their challenges are the best people to understand that.
Here are some well-known celebrities who bravely recounted their experiences of realizing they couldn’t have children, whether they chose to adopt children, use a surrogate, or not have any children at all.
1. Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston was pressed by the public and media to reveal whether or not she would become a mother, and eventually she grew weary of the questioning and disclosed her infertility. Aniston told Allure that she tried to conceive for the majority of her 30s and 40s, calling the process “challenging” and involving Chinese teas, IVF, and other procedures.
2. Jordana Brewster
Brewster made the same decision as Union to utilize a surrogate after learning she couldn’t conceive naturally. She has two kids now and has been transparent about her experience using a surrogate. In an interview with Yahoo Parenting, Brewster stated that while it “wasn’t a choice,” she “didn’t feel judged” instead of feeling “awkward” and excluded from discussions about other women’ birth experiences.
3. Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez, an actress and singer, recently discussed how her medical conditions make it difficult to have a safe pregnancy and prevent her from becoming a mother. “I haven’t ever said this, but I unfortunately can’t carry my own children,” she told Vanity Fair. The lives of her and her possible child would be at jeopardy if she did.
@curiouslymedia
Selena Gomez gets vulnerable talking about having children #selenagomez #selenagomezedit #celebrity ♬ original sound – Curiously
4. Gabrielle Union
“But wait, doesn’t Gabrielle Union already have children?” is probably what’s on your mind. Here’s why her children were born through surrogacy. Adenomyosis was Union’s diagnosis from the doctors following a string of miscarriages. She chose to quit even after IVF treatments and medication since she had an enlarged uterus and wanted to keep her health safe. She said in her memoir that she felt terrible about not becoming pregnant and that people would judge her for it.
@cade.foundation
Thank you @Gab Union for sharing your story #ivfstory #recurrentmiscarriage #pregnancylossawareness #ivfjourney ♬ original sound – CADE Foundation
5. Deborra-Lee Furness
When actor Hugh Jackman and his spouse Deborra-Lee Furness found out they were unable to produce biological children, they made the decision to adopt early on. Given that Furness is thirteen years older than Jackman, they made an immediate attempt. Furness and the “X Men” actor chose to adopt, something they had always wanted to do, despite Furness having several miscarriages early in their relationship.
6. Tyra Banks
Banks has frequently discussed her surrogacy experience in the media, including Women’s Health magazine and the podcast “Call Her Daddy.” In spite of years of infertility and heartbreak over not being able to have biological children, Banks told Women’s Health that she found solace in other mothers’ stories of forgetting they were pregnant once their children were born. This eased Banks’ choice to choose a surrogate because it allowed her to concentrate on the baby instead of the pregnancy.
@princessjewelsquotess
Stop asking women this #fertilityjourney #fertilityissues #fertilityissues #tyrabanks #motivational original sound – Princess Jewels Quotes
7. Kristen Wiig
Comedian and actor Kristen Wiig had a difficult time becoming pregnant and spent years in a state of “IVF haze” before realizing she wasn’t intended to be a mother. “It was probably the most difficult time in my life emotionally, spiritually, and medically,” Wiig stated in an interview with InStyle. It was easy sailing for Wiig and her husband, Avi Rothman, who now have twins, after they made the tough choice to use a surrogate instead.
@gen.next.fertility
Kristen Wiig’s recent interview with Hollywood Reporter @hollywoodreporter sheds light on the often silent struggles of IVF and surrogacy. Her bravery in sharing her journey is not only inspiring but also crucial in breaking down stigmas surrounding fertility. Let’s keep this conversation going! . . . #SurrogacyAwarenessMonth #KristenWiig #BreakTheStigma #FertilityJourney #HollywoodReporter #Surrogacy #GestationalCarrier #GenerationNextFertility #GNF #IVF #IVFSuccess #NaturalIVF #MildIVF #DOR #IUI #ICSI #IVFGotThis #Infertility #Fertility #TTCJourney #InfertilitySucks #IVFWarrior #IVFSupport #PregnancyJourney #FamilyBuilding #ReproductiveMedicine #IVFClinic #FertilityTreatment #TryingToConceive #DrSeckin ♬ That Couch Potato Again – Prod. By Rose
8. Kate Walsh
Actor from “Private Practice” Kate Walsh went through early menopause, which prevented her from becoming a parent. Kate’s sister also had early menopause, which motivated her to consult a physician. Walsh acknowledged that she was terrified when her sister told her about this information. The doctor informed her that there was a hairline fracture and that she only had one egg.
9. Lena Dunham
The “Girls” creator underwent a hysterectomy at the age of thirty-one. Despite being a wise medical decision, Dunham’s decision to have her uterus removed when she was struggling with endometriosis has always haunted her. She said she “wanted to know what nine months of complete togetherness could feel like” in an essay for Vogue, adding that it felt like an interview she couldn’t pass.