Many infertile couples do not even discuss their issues with their closest friends, or even family, due to embarrassment, fears of judgement, and consuming feelings of despair. Infertility is still very much a taboo subject in our society, and unfairly so.
More than 1 in 12 couples in America alone have difficulty conceiving, and that number increases to 1 in 7 couples who are in their 30s. 30% of this group has male infertility, 30% has female infertility, 30% is unknown, and 10% is a combination of male/female infertility. We are talking about a LOT of people.
Giuliana and Bill (an E! news anchor and the winner of Donald Trump's show, The Apprentice), are both celebrities who have been trying to start a family for over a year. Due to advanced maternal age, they've come to their last option to conceive a biological child: In vitro fertilization. The process is personal and grueling, with extreme emotional stress (and financial stress for those who are NOT highly paid celebrities!).
They have bravely and candidly been documenting their journey on their reality show (on the Style Network), and have even publicly suffered a devastating loss of their baby via miscarriage at 9wks. To watch a video previewing upcoming epidoses of Giuliana and Bill's reality show, click right here.
Celebrity couples who suffer from infertility often opt to keep their struggles (and treatment) private. It is a person's right to remain silent about their private life, but this choice ultimately perpetuates the "taboo" mentality of infertility within our society. Revealing their choice to go through IVF, IUI, or other infertility treatment approaches (including donor egg/sperm, embryo adoption, traditional adoption, surrogacy, etc.), celebrities can bring attention to the fact that infertility is happening everywhere, probably to somebody you know. It can be devastating and heartbreaking, but it can also be overcome.
I commend Giuliana and Bill Rancic for stepping up to the plate to bring awareness to infertility. I truly hope that they acheive the family they are so deeply desiring. I also hope that their candid approach to infertility encourages other people (celebrities or not) to come out of the infertility closet, reach out for support from others, and not feel so isolated in their struggle.
More than 1 in 12 couples in America alone have difficulty conceiving, and that number increases to 1 in 7 couples who are in their 30s. 30% of this group has male infertility, 30% has female infertility, 30% is unknown, and 10% is a combination of male/female infertility. We are talking about a LOT of people.
Giuliana and Bill (an E! news anchor and the winner of Donald Trump's show, The Apprentice), are both celebrities who have been trying to start a family for over a year. Due to advanced maternal age, they've come to their last option to conceive a biological child: In vitro fertilization. The process is personal and grueling, with extreme emotional stress (and financial stress for those who are NOT highly paid celebrities!).
They have bravely and candidly been documenting their journey on their reality show (on the Style Network), and have even publicly suffered a devastating loss of their baby via miscarriage at 9wks. To watch a video previewing upcoming epidoses of Giuliana and Bill's reality show, click right here.
Celebrity couples who suffer from infertility often opt to keep their struggles (and treatment) private. It is a person's right to remain silent about their private life, but this choice ultimately perpetuates the "taboo" mentality of infertility within our society. Revealing their choice to go through IVF, IUI, or other infertility treatment approaches (including donor egg/sperm, embryo adoption, traditional adoption, surrogacy, etc.), celebrities can bring attention to the fact that infertility is happening everywhere, probably to somebody you know. It can be devastating and heartbreaking, but it can also be overcome.
I commend Giuliana and Bill Rancic for stepping up to the plate to bring awareness to infertility. I truly hope that they acheive the family they are so deeply desiring. I also hope that their candid approach to infertility encourages other people (celebrities or not) to come out of the infertility closet, reach out for support from others, and not feel so isolated in their struggle.
For more information on infertility, please go to http://www.resolve.org/
Giuliana & Bill is on Mondays at 8/7c on the Style Network.
Giuliana & Bill is on Mondays at 8/7c on the Style Network.
No comments:
Post a Comment