Jennifer Aniston and Lena Dunham lead stars paving the way to break Hollywood’s silent taboo by discussing their infertility

When it comes to Hollywood celebrities, there isn’t much that the public doesn’t know about them.

Traditionally, many celebrities have been reluctant to talk about difficult experiences like infertility and losing a baby.

Although statistics show about one in seven couples struggle to get pregnant, it’s still a subject many people don’t talk about openly.

Recently, more and more celebrities have been openly sharing their personal and often difficult experiences to support others.

Kelly Brook recently shared her experience with the pain of losing her baby, revealing she had a miscarriage six months into her pregnancy.

Many women share similar struggles. Lena Dunham has spoken about the emotional toll of having a double hysterectomy at age 31, and Jennifer Aniston has publicly discussed her 20-year journey trying to get pregnant.

Jennifer Aniston

The actress best known for her role on Friends recently shared that she privately struggled for two decades to become a mother, facing unsuccessful IVF treatments and trying various methods to conceive.

Jennifer has frequently been the subject of rumors about being pregnant. In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar UK, she spoke out against the idea that she doesn’t want children, dismissing claims she’s too focused on her career to be a mother.

She explained that people weren’t aware of her personal struggles over the last two decades to start a family, as she keeps her medical issues private.

It’s really nobody’s concern, but it’s gotten to the point where I can’t ignore the rumors. People are saying I won’t have a baby or a family because they think I’m too focused on my career and self-centered.

Of course it bothers me – I’m only human, and we all are. That’s why I reacted the way I did – I just thought, ‘Why not?’

Jennifer and Brad Pitt were married for five years, from 2000 to 2005. Their marriage ended after Brad met Angelina Jolie while filming the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

In 2022, Jennifer shared the heartbreaking news that her attempts at IVF weren’t successful, and expressed regret that she hadn’t frozen her eggs sooner.

‘It was a challenging road for me, the baby-making road,’ Jennifer said at the time.

In my late thirties and forties, I faced some incredibly difficult challenges. Looking back, I realize those experiences were essential to my personal growth and helped me become the person I am today. During that time, I was also trying to get pregnant.

Oh my gosh, all those years of everyone wondering… it was so tough. I was desperately trying everything to make it happen – round after round of IVF, weird herbal teas, you name it, I tried it. I was completely throwing everything I had at getting pregnant, honestly.

I wish someone had told me to consider freezing my eggs earlier. It just never crossed my mind at the time. Now it’s too late, but honestly, I don’t dwell on it – I’m content with how things turned out.

I was so shocked when Jennifer and Brad separated. She’s always been really open, and I remember her specifically denying those rumors that he left her because she didn’t want to have kids. She called them a complete fabrication, and I’ve believed her ever since.

Kelly Brook

Kelly Brook this week shared her painful experience of losing her baby six months into her pregnancy.

In 2011, the 45-year-old presenter became pregnant while she was with her then-fiancé, Scottish rugby player Thom Evans, who was eager to become a father.

It was absolutely devastating for me to hear Kelly talk about her loss. She described it as truly horrific, and it’s clearly left a deep trauma with her. She’s made the heartbreaking decision that she doesn’t want to try for a baby again, and honestly, I completely understand and support her. It’s just so sad.

She shared that she experienced a miscarriage at six months, which was incredibly traumatic and devastating. It was the most difficult thing she’d ever gone through.

Recovering took a long time, and honestly, I don’t think I ever fully did. Unfortunately, the experience ended my relationship, and I had to rebuild my life and move on.

Kelly, now married to French model Jeremy Parisi, shared that they both decided not to have children. However, she also confessed she still sometimes thinks about having them.

‘The time has probably run out, I don’t know, I just have to get my head around it,’ she reflected.

If our marriage doesn’t last, it would be really painful for me to see him have a family with someone else.

My partner and I decided a long time ago that having kids wasn’t for us, and honestly, a part of me wonders ‘what if?’ It’s not that I regret the decision, but I’d be lying if I said the thought doesn’t sometimes tug at my heartstrings. It’s a surprisingly common feeling, even when you’re confident in your choices!

Lena Dunham

Lena Dunham has previously shared her difficult experiences with infertility, expressing feelings of disappointment with her body and acknowledging that she won’t have children biologically.

In 2017, at age 31, the actress and writer had a full hysterectomy—removal of her uterus, cervix, and one ovary—after struggling with endometriosis pain for years.

The actor underwent numerous complicated surgeries – well over ten – and also explored various alternative therapies, including pelvic floor and massage therapy, pain management, color therapy, acupuncture, and yoga.

The doctors also found other health problems that were contributing to her discomfort during the procedure.

Okay, so she told Vogue everything, and it’s just… a lot. Apparently, on top of dealing with endometriosis, she has this weird hump-like thing going on, and a wall inside her uterus! But the craziest part? Her period actually flows backwards! Like, into her stomach! Can you even imagine?! It’s just… I feel so bad for her, but I’m also completely fascinated by how strong she is to talk about all of this. It’s just… wow.

Lena has admitted that after her hysterectomy, she became ‘obsessed’ with becoming a mother.

In a 2020 essay for Harper’s Magazine, Lena wrote honestly about beginning her search for a baby after realizing she could no longer have children naturally.

Three years after that, the creator of the show ‘Girls’ shared that she had been considering adoption. This changed when a doctor told her there was a possibility she could still collect eggs from her remaining ovary, which was still functioning.

She told readers that if her eggs were retrieved successfully, they would be fertilized using donor sperm and then a surrogate mother would carry the pregnancy to full term.

Unfortunately, the procedure wasn’t successful, and Dunham found out on Memorial Day, during the COVID-19 pandemic, that none of her eggs were able to be used.

She explained that while you can fix many things in life – like ending a relationship, overcoming addiction, or making amends – you can’t change something your body isn’t capable of, such as having a baby when it’s not possible.

Deciding not to go down the road of IVF again she told People: ‘IVF destroyed my body.

As someone who really prioritizes well-being, I’ve had to be honest with myself about what my body can handle. After a really challenging experience – pushing through illness, anxiety, and even depression, only to discover the treatment wasn’t successful – I’ve realized it’s something I simply can’t put myself through again. It’s about respecting my limits and choosing a path that supports my overall health, both physical and emotional.

The award-winning actor added that while she’d hoped for a biological child, she had already accepted the possibility of becoming a mother through adoption.

Looking back, she realized the hope of potentially having a biological child – through IVF and surrogacy, even with only one ovary – distracted her from what she deep down already believed.

Lena shared with her fans that she and her husband, Luis Felber, are hoping to have another child.

She told The Sunday Times that she’d expected to gradually lose her fertility and experience changes in her menstrual cycle, but her hysterectomy caused a sudden and immediate end to both instead.

She shared that their family is growing in unexpected ways, but didn’t offer details. She explained she wants to first connect with her children before discussing the situation publicly.

Dolly Parton

Dolly’s husband, Carl Dean, passed away last March at 82. They were married for almost sixty years and did not have any children.

The famous country singer says she doesn’t regret deciding not to have children.

When asked if she regretted not having children during an appearance on Larry King’s show, she replied that she regretted the decision even less now than she did before. She used to think she wanted children, but now, considering the state of the world, she’s actually relieved she doesn’t have any.

Dolly Parton has spoken openly about her difficulties with fertility. In her 2017 book, Dolly on Dolly, she revealed she was diagnosed with endometriosis when she was 35.

The singer had a partial hysterectomy at age 36, which led her to feel like she’d aged prematurely. She admitted to struggling emotionally afterward, but eventually pushed herself to feel better.

She added that they’d never considered adoption. She explained she simply didn’t have the time, balancing her career with the responsibility – and happiness – of caring for her younger siblings.

In a 2023 interview with Saga Magazine, she shared that she hadn’t felt a strong desire to have children. She explained that while many young couples plan to start a family, having kids wasn’t something she ever felt passionately about.

I was focused on my work and music, and I enjoyed traveling. Had I been a parent, I would have prioritized staying home with my children, and I often worried about their well-being.

Elizabeth Day

Journalist Elizabeth Day has publicly shared her experiences with trying to have a child, and at 46 years old, has decided to accept that she won’t have a child through traditional means.

The popular podcast host of How To Fail spent twelve years trying to have a baby, and the stress of that journey eventually led to the end of her first marriage.

After struggling through two rounds of IVF, multiple miscarriages, egg freezing, and surgery to address issues with her womb, she found the emotional strain of trying to conceive became too much to handle.

She told The Times in September that it’s incredibly disappointing when you feel like you deserve something, but things don’t work out the way you hoped.

I’ve realized that motherhood might not be my path, and that’s okay because I have other fulfilling directions in life.

Driven by her wish to become a mother, she underwent a painful surgical procedure to alter her uterus and later pursued fertility treatment involving egg donation in the United States with her husband, Justin Basini, whom she had been married to for four years.

Elizabeth, Justin’s stepmother to his three children, says she feels much more relaxed now that she’s given up trying to have a baby. However, she also confessed she’ll always feel a bit sad about not having a child of her own.

She admitted that not having children would likely make her sad for the rest of her life, but she still believed it wasn’t necessarily a mistake.

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez hasn’t had children yet, but she’s shared that she won’t be able to carry a pregnancy herself because of health challenges she’s facing.

In 2014, the actress received a diagnosis of lupus, an autoimmune disease where the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs.

She told Vanity Fair last year that she is unable to have children due to health issues.

Selena recently revealed to a magazine that she is unable to have children herself, something she’s never spoken about before.

I have significant health problems that could seriously endanger both my life and the baby’s. It took me some time to come to terms with that.

I’ve been following this celebrity’s journey, and she recently shared that becoming a mom might look a little different for her than she originally imagined. But honestly? She’s just as excited and determined as ever to have a child and build her own family. It’s inspiring to see her embrace a different path while staying focused on her dreams!

‘It’s not necessarily the way I envisioned it. I thought it would happen the way it happens for everyone,’ she said.

I’m feeling much more positive about my options now. I’m grateful that surrogacy and adoption are available, and that there are kind people willing to help, as they both offer real possibilities for me.

She expressed gratitude for the various options available to those who long to become mothers, sharing that she is one of them. She’s looking forward to starting a family, even though her path to motherhood may not be traditional.

Selena expressed that through surrogacy or adoption, the child will be ‘mine.’

‘At the end of the day, I don’t care. It’ll be mine. It’ll be my baby,’ she expressed.

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness

Hugh Jackman has publicly shared his difficulties with starting a family with his former wife, Deborra-Lee Furness.

From the beginning of their relationship, the couple hoped to start a family. They began trying for a baby right after getting married, as the actress was already 40 years old.

Sadly, they had difficulty getting pregnant, experiencing both heartbreaking miscarriages and unsuccessful IVF treatments.

Hugh shared on The Jess Cagle Interview that they began trying for a baby right away when they started dating, due to her age.

Let me tell you, building our family wasn’t a straightforward journey. We faced some heartbreaking losses with a couple of miscarriages, and ultimately, we went through IVF. It was incredibly challenging, especially for my wife, Deb. It really tested us, but we persevered.

Hugh shared that they had always dreamed of adopting a child, and after struggling with IVF, they felt it was the perfect time to pursue that dream.

‘I remember saying to her, “We always wanted to adopt – let’s just adopt now,”‘ he continued.

The former couple wanted to adopt a baby of mixed racial heritage, and Hugh explained their reasoning was simply to help where there was the greatest need.

After speaking with people in the field, we realized the greatest need was support for children of mixed racial backgrounds.

Many adoptive parents prioritize finding a child who resembles them, but Deb and I never felt that was important at all.

I want to teach my children that what makes them special – their unique personality – is what truly matters. Things like skin color or whether they’re a boy or a girl aren’t the core of who they are. Their true selves lie much deeper than that.

Benjamin Zephaniah

It’s rare for famous men to discuss issues with infertility, but poet and novelist Benjamin Zephaniah recently revealed he has no sperm after being tested.

He noticed his friends were starting families, and when he couldn’t have children himself, he went to the doctor. Tests revealed he had no sperm production.

Oh my gosh, he actually said it! In this interview with The Times, he confessed there was a time he felt… I don’t know how to explain it… like he wasn’t allowed to just be a dad. He described seeing other dads with their kids, just playing in the park, and instantly feeling this weird pressure, like he couldn’t do that himself. It’s so relatable, and honestly, it breaks my heart that he felt that way! He really opened up, and it’s just… everything.

I have a great connection with children everywhere, and people often tell me that having a child of my own might change how I relate to all the others. I’ve sort of accepted that as a possibility.

2025-11-13 04:37