4 Celebs Who Have Bared It All About Being Unable To Conceive On IVF

In vitro fertilization, commonly known as IVF, describes a series of treatments designed to help overcome infertility. An individual, whether single or with a partner, may choose to undergo IVF treatments for many reasons, ranging from general fertility issues to specific health problems. There has been a lot of stigma and shame surrounding IVF and infertility, and those undergoing treatment were often reticent to talk about it. In recent years, however, more individuals are opening up about their experiences.

No matter how rich or famous, anybody can be impacted by infertility. In fact, some of the world's most famous faces have navigated infertility journeys behind closed doors. Former First Lady Michelle Obama, for example, is one of many who has dealt with infertility. While many celebrities have had successful IVF journeys, others have not been so lucky. Though some have gone on to successfully get pregnant, IVF sometimes proves to be too challenging, and several celebrities turned their back on the treatment completely. 

One thing women should know about their biological clock is that getting pregnant after 35 isn't impossible. Kourtney Kardashian Barker shares a blended family of seven children with her husband, Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker. In 2023, the pair welcomed the youngest member of their blended family, a baby boy named Rocky Thirteen Barker. 

However, as magical as the birth of their son was, their fertility journey was far from easy. Proving that she knew a thing or two about freezing eggs, on a 2023 episode of "The Kardashians," Kardashian Barker revealed that she had already frozen several before even trying for a baby. "I had seven frozen eggs from years ago, before Travis," she said in the episode (via People). When she and Barker finally decided to bring another child into their family, they suffered five failed attempts while trying to conceive through IVF.

The 47-year-old reality star opened up about her difficult fertility journey on social media, telling her fans that she miraculously got pregnant one year after giving up on the treatment. "I stopped after a year of trying (5 failed IVF cycles, 3 retrievals) my body relaxed and I believed in God's plan for my life," she wrote on an Instagram story (via People). "I got pregnant 100% naturally, NOT through IVF ... one year after stopping IVF actually," she added, noting that she had given up the idea of having another baby and was focused on prioritizing her health instead.

Despite trying for 20 years to have a baby, including undergoing IVF treatment, Jennifer Aniston has been unable to conceive. Studies show that the success rate for women under the age of 35 trying to conceive through IVF stands at 55%, but for women over the age of 40, the rate can be much lower, dropping to around 15%. In an interview with Allure, Aniston revealed that trying to get pregnant deeply affected her life. "I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it. I was throwing everything at it," she said. The actor added that, during her challenging time, the attention from the media didn't help.

Aniston explained that when her five-year marriage to actor Brad Pitt ended in 2005, the media spun a narrative, claiming that their relationship breakdown was due to the "Friends" star's inability to have a baby. "God forbid a woman is successful and doesn't have a child. And the reason my husband left me, why we broke up and ended our marriage, was because I wouldn't give him a kid," she said. "It was absolute lies," the actor emphasized. Unfortunately, she didn't manage to conceive, but Aniston still credits her difficult experience for having a positive impact on her life. "I would've never become who I was meant to be," Aniston explained, adding that she feels relieved, now that she has stopped trying to have a baby.

Shortly after welcoming a son in 2019, Amy Schumer revealed that she and her husband were trying for another baby. The comedian struggles with endometriosis, which is a potential sign of fertility problems. While Schumer has not confirmed whether she conceived her first child naturally, she announced in January 2020 that she was undergoing IVF treatment for her second child. In an Instagram post, under a photo of her bruised stomach, Schumer revealed that one week of treatment had already taken its toll on her well-being. "I'm a week into IVF and feeling really run down and emotional," she wrote, asking for any advice and for other women to share their experiences with IVF. Less than a year later, Schumer revealed that she had quit IVF completely.

While appearing on "The Today Show" a few months later, the comedian said that she could no longer tolerate the painful process. Though she was considering having a child via surrogacy, for the time being, Schumer paused plans to expand her family. "IVF was really tough on me," she explained, "I don't think I could ever do IVF again." 

In a 2022 episode of iHeartRadio's "Dear Chelsea" podcast, Schumer spoke transparently about how challenging the treatment actually was. "I did it one time and I was like, I'm gonna die. This is awful," she said, praising other women who have also endured the treatment. The comedian revealed that she has since had her uterus removed, and while sad about the outcome, she was embracing having just one child.

Television personality Chrissy Teigen shares four children with her husband, singer John Legend. Although the couple were eventually successful in having kids, they were unable to conceive for years. The pair eventually turned to IVF, but despite undergoing treatment, they still struggled to conceive. 

Teigen has since become an advocate for ending the stigma attached to fertility treatments and educating women on the challenging process. When she was pregnant with her second child in 2018, Teigen addressed her battle with IVF in a vulnerable interview with The Cut. "You hear stories about IVF working the first try. But you'll hear a lot more stories about when it takes a few times. Ours didn't work the first time, and it was devastating," Teigen said, adding that she often blamed herself for not being able to get pregnant.

In 2020, the TV personality suffered a tragic miscarriage with her third baby at 20 weeks of pregnancy. However, in a 2021 interview with People, Teigen revealed she was still set on expanding her family, and she and her husband were looking into alternative means. "Coming to terms with not being able to carry again is still really difficult for me because I feel so healthy." she said. "But then I think about it as my uterus is just not cooperating with me — and it's not a failure," Teigen added. The couple decided to try one last round of IVF, which resulted in a successful pregnancy and the birth of their third child, Esti Maxine, in January 2023. At the same time, Teigen and Legend were expecting another child via surrogacy, and just five months after Esti was born, the couple welcomed their fourth child, Wren Alexander.