20 Celebrities Who Have Opened Up Candidly About Their Experiences With Fertility Problems

Fertility is a sensitive issue for many. The subject is often taboo due to the stigma associated with infertility. Nowadays, despite being carefully considered, it is still a minefield issue that many people avoid talking about. One poor-taste joke or insensitive comment could hurt people who are having issues with infertility.
So, naturally, people avoid talking about this topic when it comes up. Usually with an apologetic or condoling comment, and then moving away from it. Which emphasizes the stigma even more. But things are changing.
People are opening up more about their battle with fertility issues, about having children but not being able to conceive them. And many become inspirations for others with their stories. And among them, celebrities, who have great reach, make the most inspirational stories of them all. And here are 20 celebrities who are candid about their fertility issues.

#1 Kim Kardashian

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After the birth of their first child, North, the reality TV star and businesswoman recounted the "hard journey" she and her ex-husband, Kanye West, took to conceive again. Kim said in a SKIMS advertisement in 2019 that she "had to have five separate surgeries" after the birth of her second child. She subsequently decided to have two additional children through surrogacy.

#2 Alicia Vikander

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In 2021, Alicia and her husband, Michael Fassbender, had a kid. The Tomb Raider actor recently spoke to the Sunday Times about giving birth, which she described as "very severe, awful to go through" after a previous miscarriage.

#3 Gabrielle Union

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In 2021, Time published an extract from Gabrielle's book, You Got Anything Stronger? in which she discussed her fertility issues. Due to her inability to conceive, the Cheaper By the Dozen star's doctor advised her that having a kid via surrogate would be her best option. The star went on to state she had "additional IVF rounds and losses" for a year. Gabrielle eventually considered taking Lupron, which she claims had "severe" negative effects.
She and her husband, Dwayne later had a surrogate daughter, Kaavia James, in 2018.

#4 Nicole Kidman

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According to Marie Claire, Nicole stated on 60 Minutes Australia in 2011 that her reproductive journey had been a "rollercoaster." This prompted her and her husband, Keith Urban, to have their second child together through surrogacy. The Oscar winner was open about the impact reproductive challenges may have on parents looking to grow their families.

#5 Angela Bassett

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In a 2018 Good Morning America interview, Michelle informed Robin Roberts that she first felt ashamed after having a miscarriage nearly 20 years before.
The former First Lady revealed that she had IVF therapy to have her two kids, Malia and Sasha, with Barack Obama. She went on to write about her reproductive issues in her book, Becoming.

#6 Tamron Hall

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In 2019, the broadcast journalist and TV personality spoke to Allure about her own reproductive troubles. Tamron revealed that she endured agonizing procedures to give birth to her son, Moses, whom she shares with her husband, Steven Greener.
Tamron was "terrified" of losing her baby after getting pregnant with Moses, so she didn't publicly announce her pregnancy until she was 32 weeks along. She subsequently remarked on how all she'd been through, including infertility and losing her Today Show post in 2017, had prepared her for a happy ending.

#7 Mariah Carey

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Mariah admitted she had previously miscarried when being interviewed with her then-husband, Nick Cannon, by TV journalist Barbara Walters in 2011. She underwent fertility procedures to get pregnant. As a result, the singer-songwriter gave birth to twins, Monroe and Moroccan, whom she shares with Nick.

#8 Tyra Banks

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Tyra and fellow FABLife panelist Chrissy Teigen discussed being asked about not having children in 2015. On social media, the model and broadcaster revealed her irritation with fans' repeated requests. Tyra, who eventually gave birth to a son, York, through surrogacy in 2016, went on to discuss the laborious process of having excruciating IVF treatments.

#9 Halsey

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Halsey experienced many miscarriages before giving birth in 2021, they disclosed in a 2022 piece for Vogue. Following the birth of her son, Ender, whom she shares with her partner, Alev Aydin, the artist said that she "shed a solitary tear in the weariness of post-labor."

#10 Nancy Juvonen and Jimmy Fallon

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In a 2020 episode of The Tonight Show, Jimmy and his wife, Nancy, discussed their reproductive issues. The couple had always desired children, but it took them "five years."
Jimmy characterized the conceiving process as "wild," adding that "at one point, it was just shots and stuff and drinking bizarre teas." Nancy also urged those who were struggling with infertility to stay positive in their journey.

#11 Brooke Shields

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Brooke had already spoken publicly about her difficulty becoming pregnant before delivering her two kids. According to NY Metro Parents, she revealed in 2005 that she "never believed [she] would have difficulty" having children with her husband, Chris Henchy, but the pair struggled to conceive.
The model and actress urged those dealing with similar concerns to be open about their experiences and not be ashamed of their reproductive troubles.

#12 Celine Dion

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Celine spoke about a previous loss on The Oprah Winfrey Show in February 2010. She also discussed attempting to have another child with her late lover, René Angélil, and how she felt after multiple failed efforts to conceive. Celine had six rounds of IVF before giving birth to twin sons in October 2010.

#13 Jaime King

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Jaime was diagnosed with adenomyosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and endometriosis at the age of 26 and informed by doctors that she would never be able to have children. Before giving birth to her first child, James Knight, in 2013, the actress had five miscarriages and had over 60 intrauterine inseminations and five rounds of IVF.

#14 Beyoncé

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Beyoncé stated in her 2013 documentary, Beyoncé: Life Is But a Dream, that she experienced a miscarriage before delivering her first child, Blue Ivy, to Jay-Z. That same year, she appeared on Oprah's Next Chapter and explained why she decided to openly share her reproductive experience.

#15 Anne Hathaway

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In 2022, Anne told WSJ Magazine that she and her husband, Adam Shulman, could explore having additional children, but that the process has been "difficult." The WeCrashed actor, who has two children with Adam, stated that talking with others who have gone through similar reproductive challenges has helped her deal with personal pain.

#16 Chrissy Teigen

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Chrissy has been open about her infertility, including saying it was "devastating" when IVF failed to result in a pregnancy for her and her husband, John Legend, on the first try.
Listening to the personal tales of people who have also had IVF therapy helped the TV celebrity put her own two children, Luna and Miles, into perspective.

#17 Maria Menounos

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Maria discussed her experience attempting to conceive children with her husband, Keven Undergaro, in early 2022. Maria chose to go into surrogacy after completing IVF procedures for the first time eleven years ago.
The TV personality went on to say that she and Keven had found a surrogate following a years-long procedure that she described as "very expensive" and "extremely emotionally exhausting."

#18 Rebel Wilson

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Rebel revealed her reproductive troubles in an Instagram post in 2021. The star earlier disclosed in 2020 that she had begun freezing her eggs and making healthy lifestyle changes to boost her chances of having children.

#19 Courteney Cox

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Courteney spoke on Busy Tonight in 2019 and discussed her difficulties becoming pregnant before having her daughter, Coco, with her ex-husband, David Arquette. This led her to create the docuseries 9 Months with Courteney Cox, which chronicles several couples' pregnancies.

#20 Michelle Obama

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In a 2018 Good Morning America interview, Michelle informed Robin Roberts that she first felt ashamed after having a miscarriage nearly 20 years before. The former First Lady revealed that she had IVF therapy to have her two kids, Malia and Sasha, with Barack Obama. She went on to write about her reproductive issues in her book, Becoming.