For those who want to be parents, things don’t always work out as you planned. Although getting pregnant is straightforward for some, many women go through fertility struggles, and no one understands that better than these celebrities who have opened up about their battles.
Whether they’ve decided to adopt children, go through a surrogate, or not have kids at all, here are some high-profile stars who realized that they couldn’t have children and courageously shared their stories.
1. Selena Gomez
Singer and actor Selena Gomez recently spoke out about not being able to have children due to her medical conditions, which make having a safe pregnancy difficult. She said to Vanity Fair, “I haven’t ever said this, but I unfortunately can’t carry my own children.” If she did, it would put both her and her potential child’s lives at risk.
2. Jennifer Aniston
The media and the public both pressured Jennifer Aniston on whether she would have children, and she finally got sick of the interrogation, opening up about her infertility. Aniston said that she spent much of her 30s and 40s attempting to have a baby, telling Allure that the “baby-making road” was a “challenging” one filled with IVF, Chinese teas, and more.
3. Gabrielle Union
You might be wondering, “But wait, doesn’t Gabrielle Union already have children? Her children were born from surrogacy, and here’s why. After going through many miscarriages, doctors diagnosed Union with adenomyosis. She had an enlarged uterus and, even after IVF treatments and medication, decided to stop in order to protect her health. In her memoir, she wrote that she felt awful about not experiencing pregnancy and facing public judgment for it.
4. Jordana Brewster
Like Union, Brewster decided to use a surrogate after she discovered she wasn’t able to carry children on her own. Today, she has two children and has been open about her surrogacy journey. When speaking with Yahoo Parenting, Brewster said it “wasn’t a choice” but that she “didn’t feel judged” but instead felt “awkward” and left out of the conversation when other mothers would discuss what the experience of birth was like.
5. Deborra-Lee Furness
Actor Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness decided early on to adopt after learning they couldn’t have biological children. Since Furness is 13 years older than Jackman, they started trying right away. After Furness experienced many miscarriages towards the beginning of the relationship with the “X Men” actor, they decided to adopt, which they had wanted to do in the future regardless.
6. Lena Dunham
The creator of “Girls” had a hysterectomy when she was just 31 years old. She had her uterus removed as she experienced struggles with endometriosis, and while it was a smart medical move, it has been a decision that always haunted Dunham. In an essay for Vogue, she wrote that she “wanted to know what nine months of complete togetherness could feel like,” adding that it felt like a job interview she couldn’t pass.
7. Tyra Banks
Banks has spoken about her surrogacy experience many times in the media, from the “Call Her Daddy” podcast to Women’s Health magazine. Despite spending years trying to conceive and feeling sad about not being able to have biological children, Banks told Women’s Health that it was comforting to hear from other mothers that once they had their babies, they forgot they were ever pregnant. This made Banks feel like she could focus on the baby rather than the pregnancy, which made the decision to use a surrogate easier.
8. Kristen Wiig
Actor and comedian Kristen Wiig went through a bumpy road to fertility, finding herself in an “IVF haze” for years until she finally came to terms with the fact that she wasn’t meant to carry children. Talking to InStyle, Wiig said, “Emotionally, spiritually, and medically, it was probably the most difficult time in my life.” After making the difficult decision to opt for a surrogate instead, it was smooth sailing for Wiig and her husband, Avi Rothman, who now have twins.
9. Kate Walsh
“Private Practice” actor Kate Walsh wasn’t able to have children of her own because she experienced menopause early. Her sister also had early menopause, encouraging Kate to see a doctor about it. Walsh admitted that she was scared when her sister shared this information, and when she went to the doctor, they said, “You have one egg, and there’s a hairline fracture.”
