Kate Walsh Explains Why She Does Not Have Children

— -- Kate Walsh opened up about her struggles with infertility, revealing that she can no longer have children because she's gone through early menopause.

The former "Grey’s Anatomy" and "Private Practice" star told Maria Menounos on her SiriusXM radio show that the idea that women can "have it all" is an "American Myth."

"I don’t have children. I’m not going to have kids," the 48-year-old actress revealed. "I went through early menopause."

Walsh explained that she let too much time go by.

"My older sister called and was like 'By the way, you should go and get yourself checked because I’m going through menopause early,'" Walsh recalled. "And I’m like, 'You’re just scaring me.' And then yeah, sure enough, I went and they were like 'You have one egg and there’s a hairline fracture. So enjoy it.'"

Since then, the actress has come to learn she is not alone.

"A lot more women are going through early menopause," she told Menounos. "It is really interesting. There’s this huge gift -- and I do believe you 'lean in' and that you can have a lot. I don’t know if you can actually have it all. I think that is actually this American Myth. I wouldn’t call it a dream. I think it’s a bit of a myth in that it’s this huge pressure. We’re like, wait a minute, am I 'less than' if I’m not a mother? If I’m not a rock star in my career? I don’t know."

Walsh has used the experience as an opportunity to grow in her life.

"I've always felt as much as I’ve been sort of at times in my life indecisive or have hard times making decisions, I go for what I want," she said. "And I also kind of embrace what’s in front of me."

In 2011, following her bitter divorce from film executive Alex Young after only 14 months of marriage, Walsh was still coming to terms with being divorced and childless.

"I feel like a loser," she told More magazine. "I would definitely love to be a parent. But I definitely don't think I want to do it on my own."

She added, "I always knew I wanted to be an actress, but I think I always wanted a quote-unquote normal life because I had a very untraditional upbringing."