Celebrities: they’re just like us, except not at all. Let’s face it, no matter what subdivision of our fame-obsessed culture it is that you’re plugged into, whether that’s sports, TV, music, movies, you name it, you’ve no doubt had a moment where you looked at some all-star athlete, inhumanly talented performer, or flawless supermodel and thought; “if I could just be you…”
As unbelievable as it may seem though, celebrities are in fact human beings, dealing with the same kinds of human problems as the rest of us, and this absolutely includes struggling with fertility. To illustrate this fact, we’ve gathered 17 celebrities from all across the entertainment world here, in the hopes that their stories will inspire you.
1. Cameron Diaz - Persevering with the support of her family.
Actress, author, producer, and model, Cameron Diaz, has been doing everything she can to conceive with her husband, Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden, and if an inside source cited by US publication InTouch is to be believed, the couple’s hard work may have finally paid off.
The two have been trying for a long time, using everything from supplements to IVF. Their efforts to conceive have only brought the couple closer together, and Madden even publicly vowed never to leave her. They had also not ruled anything out, including adoption or surrogacy.
If the rumor mill is to be believed the 45 year old Diaz has finally succeeded in getting pregnant via IFV after trying for years. The source provided by InTouch had this to say: “Cameron was super healthy, had the best doctors — and still, nothing. There were a lot of tears,” the insider added. “Thank God for Benji, who was always very supportive. He didn’t care how they had a baby — he was determined to make Cameron a mom.”
2. Elizabeth Banks
The odds are good you’ve enjoyed Elizabeth Banks’ work at some point over the last decade or so, whether it’s for her movie roles, most notably a memorable turn as Effie Trinket in the Hunger Games films, or her TV work, clocking in memorable runs on both Scrubs and 30 Rock. What you may not know is that the actress and her husband tried to get pregnant for years using a wide range of fertility treatments. For Banks, the embryos just wouldn’t implant. The couple now has two sons via gestational surrogacy.
3. Courteney Cox - Art imitates life.
Any “Friends” fan is familiar with Monica and Chandler’s infertility struggles that broke the hearts of millions. In fact, Courtney Cox’s actual struggle became the inspiration behind this story line. Much like her character on “Friends,” Courteney Cox has struggled with infertility. She has a rare antibody in her blood that attacks the fetus every time she got pregnant. Cox and then-husband David Arquette were finally able to successfully conceive through IVF treatments, and they welcomed baby daughter Coco into the world in 2004.
4. Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson may be most famous for the pair of Oscars she won writing the screenplay for and starring in Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility, but this British actress has had her own struggles with fertility. After successfully giving birth to a daughter, Thompson and her husband Greg Wise struggled to conceive a second time. Thompson underwent IVF treatments and admitted to falling into a deep depression after several failed rounds. The couple adopted a son in 2003.
5. Chrissy Teigen
Well-known actress, TV host, and Twitter diva Chrissy Teigen and her equally-famous husband, multi-platinum recording artist John Legend, attempted to conceive naturally for nine years before finally opting for IVF treatments. The couple welcomed their daughter, Luna Simone Stephens, into the world in 2016, and are reportedly expecting a second child later this year.
6. Amy Smart
FIlm and TV actress Amy Smart, of Varsity Blues fame, introduced the world to her daughter, Flora, in a candid Instagram post, revealing that her baby was born via surrogate after years of fertility struggles.
7. Brooke Shields
After two years of miscarriages, hormone shots, and IVF, Brooke Shields and her husband, Hollywood producer Chris Henchy, successfully gave birth to the couple’s first child, a girl named Rowan. Brooke later wrote a book about the emotional toll that fertility treatments can take on women and her own struggles with postpartum depression.
8. Gabrielle Union
Actress Gabrielle Union has recently opened up about her attempts to get pregnant in her memoir, “We’re Going to Need More Wine.” She admits that for the last three years she has either been about to go into an IVF cycle, recovering from an IVF cycle, or in the middle of an IVF cycle. We’ll be rooting for Gabrielle along with her husband Dwyane Wade of the NBA’s Miami Heat.
9. Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett is a fixture of American film since the mid 80’s who’s recently seen a boost in her profile with a fun run on Netflix’s “Bojack Horseman” and a key role in Marvel’s superhero smash hit Black Panther as mother to Chadwick Boseman’s King T’Challa. Angela and husband Courtney B. Vance welcomed twin boys into the world in 2006 after seven years of fertility treatments.
10. Sarah Jessica Parker
Actress Sarah Jessica Parker’s most famous character Carrie Bradshaw may not have wanted children in Sex and the City, but Sarah Jessica Parker certainly did. She and her husband Matthew Broderick had twins via surrogate in 2009, and have since had another daughter.
11. Tyra Banks
Supermodel Tyra Banks admitted she’s always wanted kids, but never found the time because of her busy work schedule. At 41, Banks decided to go for it—but discovered it wasn’t so easy to conceive at that age. After unsuccessfully undergoing IVF treatments, Banks and her now ex-boyfriend had a son via surrogate in 2016.
12. Celine Dion - Some might call it late, she calls it moving on her time.
Celine Dion battled infertility for six years before turning to IVF to finally give birth to twin boys Eddy and Nelson in 2010 at the age of 42. It wasn’t smooth sailing for her and her husband, though, because he fought low sperm count and Dion went through 6 rounds of IVF and one miscarriage before giving birth.
13. Sherri Shepherd - See above.
The View co-host, Sherri Shepherd, experienced a similar situation and experienced success with IVF at the age of 38 when she gave birth to twins, too!
14. Brittany Aldean - An IVF success story.
Brittany Aldean, lifestyle blogger and makeup artist, revealed her journey to pregnancy on the Babes and Babies podcast. She successfully gave birth to her son Memphis last December; but she and her husband, country singer Jason Aldean, struggled for about a year and a half before she got pregnant with the use of in vitro fertilization.
"The IVF was probably harder than the actual pregnancy,” Aldean says. During her journey, she was diagnosed with endometriosis, a disease wherein interior uterine lining grows on the outside of the uterus. Despite the discouraging diagnosis, Aldean kept trying.
"We were thinking about all the options, which is sad because you want to be able to carry your own child,” Aldean laments. She and her husband once considered a surrogate. Fortunately, Aldean eventually became pregnant, which she enthusiastically described as “the most exciting thing ever.”
With the successful birth of their son, the Aldeans are already considering their second child together.
15. Remy Ma - Turning tragedy into activism.
Rapper Remy Ma has had her own difficulties with pregnancy. She disclosed earlier this year her experience with an ectopic pregnancy, which unfortunately ended in a miscarriage. Remy Ma has vowed to use this tragedy as a motivator to help other women with similar situations.
16. Kenya Moore
We’ve watched the drama unfold in the lavish lifestyle of Kenya Moore on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Moore and her new husband Marc Daly have recently been in the Barbados seeking fertility treatments.
While dating her ex-boyfriend – Matt Jordan – Kenya Moore was still actively trying to get pregnant. However, at 46 years old this is often not an easy task, which is why Kenya and new husband Marc Daly have turned to IVF to conceive.
17. Danica Patrick
Some people, like NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, can seem invincible. Danica is beautiful, fit, strong, and practically bleeds confidence. A racer, business woman, and NASCAR model of marketing and advertising, she’s a perfect example of a powerhouse woman who is willing to attack anything and make it look effortless.
But in an interview that took place January 2nd, Danica talked about her book, “Pretty Intense”, and hinted at a couple of life problems discussed within its pages. Danica admitted she has underwent a few fertility treatments in the past. They included freezing her eggs, hormones, gaining four pounds, and doing IVF treatments. “I just needed to try something new,” she explained.
She talked about it in a documentary directed by ESPN sportscaster Hannah Storm that was completed before the breakup between her and her longstanding boyfriend, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.