Gabrielle Union Details Struggle to Get Pregnant Later in Life

"The penance for being a career woman is barrenness," she said.

ByABC News
September 14, 2015, 10:59 AM
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade attend the D'USSE VIP Riser and Lounge at On The Run Tour, July 24, 2014, in Chicago.
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade attend the D'USSE VIP Riser and Lounge at On The Run Tour, July 24, 2014, in Chicago.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

— -- Gabrielle Union is opening up about her current attempts to get pregnant with new husband Dwyane Wade.

The actress talked about being married to a younger man, telling Redbook, "I realized his friends, his teammates, were conceived when I was, like, a senior in high school. I was in high school at the same time as their parents! Sometimes he'll be like, 'Oh, my God, he's so old!' about someone who's 35. But, Dwyane's an old 33, and I'm a young 42, so it balances out."

The two were married last August and now, Union admits she's using IVF in order to get pregnant.

"So far, it has not happened for us. A lot of my friends deal with this," she said.

Union then added that she's put her career first in the past.

"There's a certain amount of shame that is placed on women who have perhaps chosen a career over starting a family younger. The penance for being a career woman is barrenness. You feel like you're wearing a scarlet letter," she said.

The "Being Mary Jane" star pulled no punches, blasting discrimination against working mothers.

"As much as there are strides being made – you get pregnant, your career takes a hit. You can't have a bad day. Don't you dare cry at work. Don't raise your voice. Especially if you're a black woman in corporate America—now you're 'the angry black woman,'" she added.

Redbook hits newsstands Tuesday.