5 Celebrities Who Did IVF And Their Stories

When you’re considering in vitro fertilization (IVF), it can feel lonely. You may not have people in your life to talk to about it, or may feel embarrassed to do so. Thankfully, the public conversations about infertility challenges are changing. You do have support and people who understand. A large part of that is due to celebrities who did IVF and were brave enough to talk openly about their stories. These are just a few of the many.

1. Michelle Obama

In one of the most personal and resonant parts of her book, Becoming, Michelle Obama wrote openly about the fertility challenges she and Barack faced when they decided to get pregnant. After a devastating miscarriage, she said:

“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.”

Over twenty years ago, the couple turned to IVF and are now the proud daughters of Sasha and Malia. You can learn more about Michelle Obama’s IVF story in her book Becoming.

2. Gordon Ramsay

Often fertility challenges occur because of multiple reasons. When chef Gordon Ramsay and his wife, Tana, tried to conceive they faced issues with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), miscarriages, and low sperm count.

Gordon notes: “I had a very low sperm count on the back of standing in the kitchen for that length of time close to the stove.”

After going through IVF treatments, they’re now parents to four children—two single births and one pair of twins.

3. Chrissy Teigen

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have been open about their struggles with infertility and IVF. After trying multiple rounds of IVF, they eventually became pregnant and went on to have two healthy children.

Teigen notes that:

“It’s kind of amazing, because you’re like, Oh my goodness, I grew up my whole life trying to avoid pregnancy and hearing stories about people in high school randomly getting pregnant the first time they slept with someone. But IVF makes you really appreciate that, my God, this is a miracle. There are so many different factors that go into being able to conceive a baby. The process really makes you appreciate that.”

Read more of Teigen’s IVF story in an article on The Cut.

4. Brooke Shields

Actress Brooke Shields and her husband Chris Henchy also struggled with infertility challenges. After trying artificial insemination with no success, they turned to IVF when she was 36 years old.

In her book Down Came the Rain, she talks about the challenges of multiple failed IVF cycles:

“I was about ready to call it quits. I was growing weary of the anticipation and the pressure, and Chris said he wasn’t sure he could handle seeing me rip off another estrogen patch in frustration…at wit’s end, we decided to try one more time.”

Thankfully, that attempt led to a successful pregnancy and they’re now the proud parents of two children.

5. Celine Dion

Dion is one of the most inspiring stories of celebrities who did IVF. Even though her husband, René Angélil, had children from an earlier marriage, he faced challenges of low sperm count and motility once he was older. At 33, Dion underwent IVF and their first round was successful, leading to the birth of their first son.

They were excited to grow their family but, unfortunately, IVF was a larger challenge the second time around. It took six cycles, with miscarriages along the way, but they eventually welcomed twin boys into their family.

Learn more about Dion’s journey in her interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show.