Erin Andrews opens up about struggle with infertility
"I've been going through these treatments since I was 35 years old," she wrote.
Erin Andrews opened up on her struggle with infertility in a vulnerable update on Wednesday.
The sportscaster and former "Dancing with the Stars" host, 43, told fans on her website that she is undergoing IVF and explained why she is ready to talk about it.
"This is my 7th one, and I've been going through these treatments since I was 35 years old," the media personality wrote in a blog post. "I'm now 43, so my body is kind of stacked against me."
In vitro fertilization is the "most effective form of assisted reproductive technology," according to the Mayo Clinic. During the treatment for infertility, a woman's eggs and a man's sperm are mixed in a lab to create an embryo, or embryos. The fertilized embryo, or embryos, are then transferred to a uterus after an embryologist has determined it is viable.
Andrews explained in her post that she panicked after learning now was the time to go for another IVF attempt.
"How am I going to juggle this treatment on top of my work schedule? I got so stressed out... It really makes you question: is it the future of my family or is it my job?" she wrote, before revealing why she wanted to share this part of her life with fans.
"There are so many other women who maybe put their careers on the back burner because they don't want to miss out on any opportunities. It's so common that people are starting families late and put so many other aspects of their lives on hold," said Andrews, adding that she was upfront with her current job that she is undergoing IVF.
Noting that she is "thankful" she was honest with her employer, who was supportive of her, she declared, "I am not ashamed, and I want to be vocal and honest about this."
Infertility is considered a common problem, with 12.7% of women ages 15 to 49 having used infertility services, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is a costly and time-consuming process. In Andrews' post, she wrote, "The entire treatment takes such a mental and emotional toll on your body."
"It's a ton of money, it's a ton of time, it's a ton of mental and physical anguish. And more times than not, they're unsuccessful," she wrote.
She closed by hoping her openness will help others and "change the conversation" around fertility treatments.
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