Fertility challenges impact people from all walks of life, including celebrities. While we often think celebrities lead privileged lives, infertility transcends wealth and fame. We know this because so many have come forward to share their own fertility struggles, including the stories shared below.
Whitney Port and Tim Rosenman
Actress Whitney Port has been open about the struggles she and Tim Rosenman have had in attempting to conceive a second child. The Hills star has suffered multiple pregnancy losses in recent years and reported last February that she had begun seeing a fertility specialist.
Recently, Whitney and her husband announced that they are considering surrogacy, and are also keeping their treatment options open.
Michelle and Barack Obama
As daughters of the former U.S. president and first lady, Sasha and Malia Obama are still two of the most famous siblings in the world. But did you know that both were conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF)?
In her book Becoming, Michelle Obama explained that at age 34 she realized her ovarian reserve was limited and chose to pursue IVF to conceive.
Jennifer Aniston
Actress Jennifer Aniston opened a wider conversation when she shared that she tried and failed to conceive via IVF. While IVF helps many couples to conceive, it doesn’t work for everyone. And many women have shared that Aniston’s public disclosure of her infertility struggles helped them to feel more comfortable talking about their own issues.
Aniston revealed how painful she found questions and assumptions about why she hadn’t had children, all while she was privately experiencing failed IVF attempts. And she added that no one had ever suggested egg freezing as a way to possibly preserve her fertility. However, Aniston says she now has no regrets and feels a sense of relief at no longer having to wonder and worry.
Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman
Actors Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman tried two IVF cycles in an attempt to have children. While Furness was able to become pregnant, she suffered a miscarriage both times, and the couple was open about the emotional toll they took.
After their failed IVF attempts, Hugh and Deborra adopted two children, Ava and Oscar. While the couple’s split has been more newsworthy lately, they remain open about their fertility journey and devotion to their children.
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker
When Kourtney Kardashian and musician Travis Barker married, they both brought children from previous relationships into their blended family. However, when they tried to have a child together, they openly shared their fertility challenges with their fans.
The couple tried IVF with eggs Kourtney had frozen before marrying Travis, but their attempts were unsuccessful. The couple did go on to conceive a son naturally, Rocky Thirteen, who was born in November 2023.
Paris Hilton and Carter Reum
Socialite Paris Hilton has been very open with the public about her fertility journey. After initially freezing her eggs, Paris and her husband, Carter Reum, also froze 20 embryos and later had their son, Phoenix, via a surrogate.
Because all the embryos were boys, Paris and Carter decided to try another round of IVF with the hope of having a daughter. The couple recently surprised their family on Thanksgiving with daughter London, who was also born via surrogate.
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend
Model Chrissy Teigen and musician John Legend have also been very open about their fertility struggles. Their first IVF treatment failed, but they went on to conceive a daughter in 2016 and a son in 2018, both via IVF. The couple attempted to have a third child, but Teigen miscarried a month after announcing her pregnancy.
Last January, Teigen and Legend welcomed daughter Esti via IVF; in June they announced the birth of their son, Wren, via surrogate. The couple shared that they chose Wren’s middle name, Alex, in honor of their surrogate.
Maria Menounos and Kevin Undergaro
Television personality Maria Menounos recently shared that she and her husband Kevin Undergaro tried for almost 10 years to have a child. None of the various fertility treatments they tried, including surgery, were successful.
Last February, the couple announced that they had partnered with a surrogate, and last summer, the couple announced the birth of their daughter, Athena. Menounos shared that she still has one viable embryo left, and the couple may pursue surrogacy again in the future.
You’re Never Alone at RHWC
When facing infertility, it helps to know you aren’t alone and that it affects people from all walks of life, including celebrities. In fact, when celebrities speak out about their struggles, it helps change the overall narrative, which once led many women and couples to feel shame and suffer in silence.
Remember, infertility challenges and treatments come with a range of emotions, which is why we encourage you to take advantage of RHWC’s spiritual counseling and fertility therapy as part of your whole-person care.
Check out our blog for more fertility news, and contact us if you’d like to schedule an appointment.
At Reproductive Health and Wellness Center, we are experts at treating fertility issues. We provide the latest in cutting-edge embryo science by using the latest technologies, and we create innovative fertility plans tailored specifically to each individual. But we’re so much more.
