IVF Babble

Jennifer Aniston ‘No one has any idea what I have been through when it comes to children’

One of the world’s most famous actresses, Jennifer Aniston, has spoken out about being childless – and she is fine with it

The 49-year-old gave her first interview since she separated from second husband, Justin Theroux to Instyle magazine in which she talked about people having opinions on her life and being childless.

The Friends star said there was a huge pressure on women to have children and if they do not – for whatever reason – they are deemed ‘damaged goods’.

She also spoke about the body shaming and the endless speculation about putting her career above having a family with first husband, Brad Pitt and that being the reason they split

“It’s pretty crazy. The misconceptions are “Jen can’t keep a man” and “Jen refuses to have a baby because she’s selfish and committed to her career”. Or “that I’m sad and heartbroken,” she said.

“First, with all due respect, I’m not heartbroken. And second, those are reckless assumptions.

“No one knows what’s going on behind closed doors. No one considers how sensitive that might be for my partner and me.

“They don’t know what I’ve been through medically or emotionally.”

She went on to say that she felt she might have been put on the earth to do other things than ‘procreate’.

Jennifer is just like thousands of women across the globe who are childless, not by choice, but more by circumstance, who are regularly judged. No-one knows what she went through or what she has experienced.

Here at IVF babble we applaud anyone willing to speak out about the prejudice they face and in particular celebrities who have a voice in society and help break down fertility taboos. Being involuntarily childless is a large part of the #ttc community.

IVF is 40 years old and even though there has been many enhancements and developments within the fertility world, we should remember that the success rate is still only 29 per cent, leaving 70 per cent of couples involuntarily childless.

If you are involuntarily childless and feel you need support and to talk to women who are in a similar position there are several organisations that can help. The first is the Dovecote Community, which is run by Kelly de Silva and there is also Gateway Women, set up by Jodie Day.

Are you childless not by choice and agree with Jennifer’s comments? Get in touch, email mystory@ivfbabble.com

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