In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a technique available to help people with fertility problems have a baby.
Being a parent isn’t easy – and sometimes becoming one isn’t either. Between fertility issues (like endometriosis, PCOS or a low sperm count), being an older parent-to-be and same sex relationships to name a few, conceiving a child isn’t always straight forward. Thankfully, there are now plenty of ways you can welcome a child with the help of the advancements in medicine. One such avenue is in vitro fertilisation, which more and more prospective parents are turning to in the hopes of expanding their family.
In vitro fertilisation, more commonly known as IVF, is “one of several techniques available to help people with fertility problems have a baby,” explains the NHS website. “During IVF, an egg is removed from the woman’s ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The fertilised egg, called an embryo, is then returned to the woman’s womb to grow and develop. It can be carried out using your eggs and your partner’s sperm, or eggs and sperm from donors.”
READ ALSO 13 most difficult celebrity births: Selena Williams, Alex Jones, Helen Skelton and more
In the UK, IVF is available for women under the age of 43 who have been trying to get pregnant through regular, unprotected sex for two years. “The success rate of IVF depends on the age of the woman having treatment, as well as the cause of the infertility (if it’s known),” the NHS website notes, adding that: “IVF doesn’t always result in pregnancy.”
Whilst IVF isn’t always successful – and with the NHS also pointing out that this can be “both physically and emotionally demanding” – more and more people are opening up about their experience with the fertility treatment which, we’re sure you’ll agree, can help prospective parents feel a lot less alone in the process.
So, with that in mind, we decided to round up all of the celebrities and famous faces who have undergone, or have spoken out about having, IVF (and their fertility struggles along the way).
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker
Kravis have made no secret of their desire to have a baby together and on a recent episode of The Kardashians, Kourtney gave fans an update on their IVF journey.
“We are super excited because it’s the first time we have made it to an egg retrieval in six months of doing fertility treatments,” she said. Describing the moment as a “blessing” she went on to add that “the last two times we tried, we weren’t able to get to this phase.”
Courteney Cox and David Arquette
Courteney Cox was infamously pregnant during the final season of Friends, undergoing IVF to conceive a daughter with her now ex-husband David, named Coco Arquette.
“I actually have done in vitro,” she told ABC News. “It’s a wonderful thing that people can do in this day and age. And I’m lucky enough to be able to afford to do it. But I think it’s great. And I will do it again.”
READ ALSO Joy As 56-year-old woman who was mocked for being barren welcome twins for the first time
