According to IVF Australia one
in six Australian couples are affected by infertility, which is an issue that
effects both men and women.
IVF Australia also reports
that 40 per cent of cases are "found within the female reproductive
system, and a third will have a combination of male and female factors."
There are a host of reasons infertility
may occur from problems with eggs, sperm, anatomical structure, hormonal, or
immunity issues.
The journey to conceive a child can be
deeply emotional, physically exhausting, and expensive.
The process to create a
family is deeply personal and the choice to be private about it is valid,
but these Australian celebrities have chosen to bravely open up about their
experience with infertility.
Their admissions about their experience
and how it affected them has been important to help normalize alternative ways
to have a child.
These are the
candid stories of how Australian celebrities have braved infertility to have
their children.
Ada Nicodemou
After a year of trying to conceive, Ada turned to IVF and fell pregnant with
her adorable son Johnas.
During the later months of her pregnancy, she told New Idea how
happy she was that the IVF worked so quickly after trying for so long.
"For it to happen so quickly after we struggled for so long is a really
nice surprise and we feel really, really lucky."
Deborah Knight
Deborah opened up about her intense 12 rounds of IVF.
"In the morning, I was going off and having blood tests for rounds of IVF
and being told that an implantation had failed and then I'd have to go into
work.
That was quite difficult to put that mask on. I would put the hair and makeup
on and my mask on and go and try to do my job. It was hard," she said.
Penny McNamee
The Home and Away actress is mum to Jack and Neve, but in 2018
she opened up to New Idea about her infertility struggle due to her
endometriosis.
"I had the surgery, and typically doctors say that you really need to fall
pregnant within the first six months after. That's your best chance because the
endometriosis hasn't started to grow back yet," she said. "We had
planned to try for six months and then the next step for us was IVF. So to fall
pregnant in the fifth month – we just felt such relief and gratitude. I was a
little bit sceptical at first and didn't want to get my hopes up."
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness
The Hollywood couple underwent multiple rounds of IVF and went through numerous
miscarriages before adopting their two children, Oscar and Ava.
During an appearance on Katie Couric's US talk show in 2012 Hugh talked about
his journey to fatherhood.
"We did IVF and Deb had a couple of miscarriages. I'll never forget it, the
miscarriage thing … It happens to one in three pregnancies. But it's very, very
rarely talked about. It's almost secretive, so I hope Deb doesn't mind me
bringing it up now."
Nicole Kidman
When Nicole and Keith Urban attempted to fall pregnant for a second time, after
welcoming the first daughter, Sunday Rose, together, they struggled to
conceive. They eventually opted for a surrogate, and Faith Margaret was born.
During a 60 Minutes interview, Nicole revealed why she was
open about her journey and the paint that came with it.
"Anyone that's been in the place of wanting another child or wanting a
child knows the disappointment, the pain and the loss that you go through
trying and struggling with fertility. Fertility is such a big thing, and it's
not something I've ever run away from talking about," said the star.
