Infertility issues are quite common, even amongst the elitest of celebrities that we all know and love. These 15 A-list celebrities have all opened up to the puiblic and spoke on behalf of their own battles with fertility in hopes of helping others with similar complications.
#15 Kim Kardashian-West
The 35-year-old reality T.V. star and social media maven has had her share of fertility set-backs. This global icon, married to rapper Kayne West, shared her obstacles and even documented the truths on “Keeping Up With The Kardashians”. Kim confessesed that these complication’s took the fun out of trying to conceive and she never imagined how much of an impact it would have both on her and her husband. “I didn’t know that I was going to be so open with [my fertility challenges], but meeting people at my fertility doctor’s office who are going through the same things I’m going through, I thought, ‘Why not share my story?’ It’s been really emotional … There are definitely times when I walked out [of the doctor’s office] hysterically crying, and other times when I was like, ‘Okay, everything’s looking good, it’s going to be this month!’ The waiting and waiting has been a roller coaster”, she confessed.
Kim and Kanye were fortunate to bring baby North West into the world back in 2013. Shortly after, Kim wanted to build her family and give this pregnancy another try. Athought the first few attempts proved unsuccessful, she finally became pregnant with son, Saint West, who was born December of 2015. Although the pregnancy was extremely difficult, the West’s could not be any happier for their new baby boy.
#14 Kim Cattrall
The 59-year-old English Canadian actress wants you to know: Just because she hasn’t given birth to children, does not mean she isn’t parenting. Cattrall told BBC 4 Woman’s Hour, “I am not a biological parent, but I am a parent, I have young actors and actresses that I mentor, I have nieces and nephews that I am very close to.”
Kim’s take on being “child free” is an interesting one, “I think the thing that I find questionable about being childless or childfree — [is] are you really? I mean, there is a way to become a mother in this day and age that doesn’t include your name on the child’s birth certificate. You can express that maternal side of you, very clearly, very strongly… It feels very satisfying.”
We love Kim’s fiesty and fierce response to society’s expectation for women and child bearing.
#13 Hugh Jackman & wife Deborah-Lee
This 46 year old Australian hunk and actor spoke out about his infertility battle with wife, Deborah Lee. “To be clear, Deb and I always wanted to adopt,” he stated. “We didn’t know where in the process that would happen, but biologically, obviously, we tried and it was not happening for us. It’s almost secretive. But it’s a good thing to talk about. It’s more common and it’s tough, there’s a grieving process you have to go through.”
For many couples that face this issue, adoption is a huge plan B that can give you the family that you desire. Adopting is a blessing in itself, not just for the child but for the parents that can’t conceive on their own. Becoming a parent is not outlined by your DNA creating a child, it’s about creating a family of unconditional love and possibilties.
#12 Sarah Jessica Parker
The 50-year-old American actress married to Matthew Broderick had been struggling to conceive naturally in her late 40’s. The chances of conceiving decrease with age, and begin as early as mid-late 30’s. “ [We] tried and tried and tried and tried and tried to get pregnant,” she told Vogue magazine. “But it just was not to be, the conventional way—I would give birth as often as I could, if I could.”
The Sex & the City star is just one of the many celebrities that had chosen adoption as another option and were blessed with a set of twins.
#11. Elizabeth Banks
The 41-year-old American actress married to Max Handelman had mentioned that she and her husband used a gestational surrogate to help them have children. “It was a womb issue for me. Embryos wouldn’t implant,” she said in an interview with Lucky magazine.
Banks confessed, “It’s a big leap, inviting this person into your life to do this amazing, important thing for you,” in regards to her surrogate, “and it’s hard losing that kind of control. But our surrogate is so extraordinary, and she’s still in our lives. She’s like an auntie.”
Using a surrogate is another option offered to couples that can’t conceive a child naturally or through fertility treatments. Trusting someone to care for your awaited bundle of joy for 9 months can be a scary but wonderful thing.
#10. Tyra Banks
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The 42-year-old American Model opened up about using I.V.F. in attempt to get pregnant, “I’ve had some traumatic moments”, she expressed. “When I turned 40, the one thing I was not happy about is that I did not have kids,” Banks told PEOPLE in an exclusively interview. “I’m like, ‘Damn, the clock is ticking!’. When you’re like, ‘OK, I’m just going to do it,’ then it’s not so easy as you get older” she confessed. With tears in her eyes, Banks, who has been dating photographer Erik Asla for two years, reveals that she has undergone I.V.F. procedures in hopes of conceiving. “I’ve had some not happy moments with that, very traumatic moments. It’s difficult as you get older. It’s not something that can just happen.”
#9. Beyonce Knowles-Carter
The 34-year-old American singer had been reportedly battling fertility problems with husband, Jay-z. Beyonce has turned to fertility medication to help her get pregnant with baby No. 2. “I picked out names,” said Beyonce, in regards to her first pregnancy, “I envisioned what my child would look like.” After an unfortunate miscarriage, she confessed to had written “the saddest song” she’s ever written in her life. “And it was the best form of therapy for me, because it was the saddest thing I’ve ever been through”, she expressed.
#8. Nicole Kidman
The 48-year-old Australian actress married to Keith Urban reveals that the road to motherhood was not an easy one. “I had tried and failed and failed and failed. Not to be too detailed, but I’ve had an ectopic pregnancy, miscarriages and I’ve had fertility treatments. I’ve done all the stuff you can possibly do to try and get pregnant,” she told Who magazine. “I had so much time thinking that wasn’t going to happen in my life and trying to understand that. When it did happen—and for it to be a surprise—that was great”, she gushed.
Kidman said she and her husband have endured a “rollercoaster ride with fertility.” She told 60 Minutes, “Anyone who’s been in the place of wanting another child or wanting a child knows the disappointment, the pain and the loss that you go through trying. We were in a place of desperately wanting another child. I couldn’t get pregnant.”
Kidman has two adopted children from her previous marriage to Tom Cruise, Connor, 21 and Isabella, 19. She also has two daughters via surrogate with Keith Urban, Sunday Rose, 6, and Faith Margaret.
#7. Jaime King
#6. Courtney Cox
The 51-year-old American actress opens up about her multiple miscarriages and fertility issues with ex-husband David Arquette. “I get pregnant pretty easily,” Cox-Arquette told People magazine, “but I have a hard time keeping them.” I don’t say it’s a walk in the park. But what are you going to do? We just try again.” Later on in 2004, Cox successfully gave birth to baby CoCo who is now a happy and healthy 12 year old tween.
#5. Jimmy Fallon & wife Nancy Juvonen
The 41-year-old American comedic geniues and talk show host married Nancy Juvonen back in 2007. Fallon shared their awful 5-year fertility struggle to the world, “We tried before, we told people and then it didn’t happen,” he exclamed, “And it’s just really depressing. It’s really hard on everybody. I know people have tried much longer (than we have), but if there’s anyone out there who is trying and they’re just losing hope … just hang in there,” he insisted. “Try every avenue; try anything you can do, ’cause you’ll get there. You’ll end up with a family, and it’s so worth it. It is the most ‘worth it’ thing.”
Fortunately, the couple gave birth to their first daughter, Winnie Rose, back in July of 2013. The following year, Nancy & Jimmy became pregnant yet again and gave birth to Frances Cole in December of 2014. We’d day these two baby girls are a giant blessing and well deserved.
#4. Angela Bassett
The 57-year-old actress, married to actor Courtney B Vance, went through seven years of failed fertility treatments, including I.V.F. Sources close to the couple stated, “It was an extremely trying time, especially for Angela.”
Bassett later confessed, “After trying and trying, I unfortunately couldn’t have my babies. It was my reality. I heard about the surrogate option and it worked out beautifully.”
Another succesful surrogate story! We’re just happy this option gives hope to trying parents.
#3. Brooke Shields
The 50-year-old American actress, model and former child star talked about her struggle when she and husband, Chris Henchy, were desperately trying to have a baby. She exlpained how she lost a child in-between and how emotionally destroying infertility can be. “After a while, when you’re not successful, you start to associate the word ‘failure’ every time you pee on a stick and it doesn’t come out the right color. What starts out as a dream becomes a project that’s all consuming — everywhere you look, women are pregnant, and every song on the radio seems like it’s all about being pregnant! It becomes a very frustrating, frightening place”, admitted Shields.
Luckily, two years later, her and her husband gave bith to daughter, Rowan, in 2003. Three years later, Shields became pregnany and gave birth to her second daughter, Grier, in 2006.
#2. Chrissy Teigen
The 30-year-old American Model married famous R&B singer John Legend abck in 2013. Teigen opened up to about her fertility troubles on an episode FABLife that aired back in September of 2015. Teigen explained, “John and I have been together for so long now. I met him when I was 20, and I’m almost 30 now. Our relationship, before we even got engaged, was pretty significant too. But I will say that, just two years into being married, the questions come from all over. It’s kind of crazy. I can’t imagine being that nosy, like, ‘When are the kids coming?’ because who knows what somebody’s going through, who knows if somebody’s struggling? I would say, honestly, [that] John and I were having trouble. We would have had kids five, six years ago if it had happened, but my gosh, it’s been a process.”
However, back in October of 2015, Teigen gushed as she finally told the world that her and John were expecting. In December, she announced that they are going to be having a little baby girl, yay! We couldn’t be happier for these two. Although, not everyone is particularly happy with the news, as she confessed “Not only am I having a girl, but I picked the girl from her little embryo. I picked her and was like, Let’s put in the girl.” The backlash doesn’t affect the happy, expecting couple and rightfully so. Can you imagine the lullabies she’s going to receive?
#1. Jenn Aniston
The 46-year-old American actress married to Justin Theroux, 44, has struggled with fertility rumors for years. Now, Aniston is finally speaking out and slamming the allegations, “I have a lot of friends who decided not to have children, who can’t have children, or are trying but are having a difficult time. There are all sorts of reasons why children aren’t in people’s lives, and no one has the right to assume. It’s quite rude, insulting, and ignorant,” she says. “I don’t like [the pressure] that people put on me, on women – that you’ve failed yourself as a female because you haven’t procreated. I don’t think it’s fair. You may not have a child come out of your vagina, but that doesn’t mean that you aren’t mothering — dogs, friends, friends’ children.”
Jenn Aniston never seizes to amaze us all. We all know and love Jenn for her funny and sexy sense of humor. Mother or not, she is a fascinating woman and we just can’t get enough of her.
