Infertility is, unfortunately, something that touches so many people. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, one in six people is affected by fertility struggles all around the world. And as reproductive rights and accessibility are challenged each day, healthcare for prospective mothers is something we’re all thinking about.
With infertility impacting so much of the global population, it’s only natural that celebrities are among those affected. Infertility doesn’t discriminate; it can affect big stars just like it affects everyday people. The only difference is that when celebs struggle, they also have platforms to share their stories and help spread awareness.
Selena Gomez knows her lupus diagnosis will impact her fertility, even before she’s started trying to get pregnant. She recently opened up about her shifting plans for motherhood. “I haven’t ever said this…but I unfortunately can’t carry my own children,” she told Vanity Fair. “I have a lot of medical issues that would put my life and the baby’s in jeopardy. That was something I had to grieve for a while.”
But Selena has also already begun to explore other ways to become a mother. “I’m in a much better place with that. I find it a blessing that there are wonderful people willing to do surrogacy or adoption, which are both huge possibilities for me,” she said.
Here’s a look at some other celebrities who have opened up about their struggles with fertility.
Celebrities Who Have Dealt With Infertility
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer recently opened up about her struggles to get pregnant in her late 30s and early 40s, all while the tabloid media was scrutinizing her. “I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it. I was throwing everything at it,” she told Allure in 2022. “I would’ve given anything if someone had said to me, ‘Freeze your eggs. Do yourself a favor.’ You just don’t think it. So here I am today. The ship has sailed.”
Beyoncé
In 2020, Beyoncé opened up about the multiple miscarriages she had before giving birth to her first child, Blue Ivy. Since then, she’s also given birth to her twins Rumi and Sir.
Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy spent years undergoing IVF treatment before giving birth to her kids Luna (in 2016) and Miles (in 2018). Then, in 2021, she lost her baby, Jack, after 20 weeks of pregnancy. She and her husband, John Legend, welcomed their daughter Esti via IVF and son Wren via surrogacy in 2023.
Rebel Wilson
In 2021, Rebel shared with her Instagram followers that she was struggling with infertility. Since then, she and her wife, Ramona Agruma, welcomed a baby through surrogacy.
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle had “eight or nine” miscarriages due to her adenomyosis diagnosis, which she opened up about in her book You Got Anything Stronger? She went through several cycles of IVF and eventually welcomed a daughter via surrogate in 2018.
Kim Kardashian
After giving birth to her first child, North, Kim had difficulty getting pregnant again due to a condition called placenta accreta. She called it “a long road” but eventually gave birth to her son Saint. Her kids, Chicago and Psalm, were later born via surrogate.
Halsey
Halsey shared a lot of details about their experience in the liner notes of their album Manic. “I’ve been really open about my struggles with reproductive health, about wanting to freeze my eggs and having endometriosis and things like that,” they wrote. “For a long time, I didn’t think that having a family was something I was going to be able to do, and it’s very, very important to me.”
Halsey has given birth to two kids, one in 2021 and one in 2024.
Anne Hathaway
Anne’s first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, which was made all the harder because she was performing in a play where her character gave birth at the time. “It’s really hard to want something so much and to wonder if you’re doing something wrong,” she told Vanity Fair.
Michelle Obama
The former First Lady experienced a miscarriage in her 30s and later underwent IVF to have her two daughters. She told Good Morning America, “I felt like I failed because I didn’t know how common miscarriages were because we don’t talk about them. We sit in our own pain, thinking that somehow we’re broken. That’s one of the reasons why I think it’s important to talk to young mothers about the fact that miscarriages happen.”
