Giuliana Rancic, the E! News host who has publicly battled infertility and breast cancer, told Health magazine that she was shocked when she found out it would be hard to have a baby at age 35.
"It was a big shock!I always say how I chased my career instead of chasing guys. And everybody was patting me on the back. No one ever told me, 'Oh, by the way, your eggs change when you reach a certain age,'" Rancic told the magazine. "I didn’t think 35 was old! So when the doctor said, 'It’s not as easy as you thought it would be,' it was a real blow. Because I felt so young. I mean, this is a girl who was running six miles a day, and eating healthy, so how can you tell me that I’m not healthy in that department?"
Rancic is not alone in being surprised by how much age can affect a women's fertility. A 2011 survey of 1,000 women found that more than half flunked a quiz of ten basic "fertility IQ" questions. For example, many women surveyed thought that a healthy 30-year-old woman would have a 70 percent chance of conceiving in a given month -- in reality, the likelihood is 20 percent.
Rancic went through several rounds of failed in-vitro fertilization, then learned last year that she had breast cancer. After undergoing a double mastectomy in late 2011, she and her husband Bill welcomed a son, Edward Duke, born to a surrogate carrier on Aug. 29.
But Rancic says she can't think of anything she would have done differently. Even going through infertility and cancer very publicly, on a reality TV show -- while she might not have chosen that if she'd known what lay ahead, Rancic said in hindsight she's glad her struggles were out there for everyone to see.
"Had you given me a crystal ball when we were signing on to do the reality show that said, 'This is what’s coming up, do you want to do it?' I would’ve said absolutely not. You couldn’t pay me enough," Rancic told Health magazine. "But, looking back, I’m so happy that Ididdo it. As I would question God, 'Why are you doing this to me, why me?' I think God knew I was a loud-mouthed Italian girl who would get out and share my story, not tuck it under a rug."
Now, Rancic says, she's in "baby heaven," enjoying every moment of bonding with her 2-month-old son. But she acknowledges that it was sometimes hard seeing other women get pregnant when she was struggling with infertility.
"I would go, 'I’m a good person, and I could give someone the greatest life of all, but yet I can’t get pregnant.' And then you watch these TV shows,16 and Pregnant, and these girls who want nothing to do with their babies are pregnant. And you’re going, 'What?' None of that made sense to me," she told Health magazine.
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Read more:
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E!'s Giuliana Rancic reveals she has breast cancer
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FAQs
Viewers of the couple's hit Style Network show “Giuliana & Bill” know the story well: Giuliana went through three IVFs (one she miscarried; one didn't take), and then, at 36, was diagnosed with cancer.
What is the success rate of IVF under 35? ›
IVF success rates under 35
If the woman has never ever conceived before and is under 35 then it is more likely for her that she would conceive in 32% of cases. If women have had a child before then there are 37 percent of chances for IVF cycle to work and result in a successful pregnancy under the age of 35.
Does infertility have a cure? ›
So while infertility cannot officially be “cured,” it can be effectively managed with the variety of treatment options available. If you or your loved one are suffering from fertility problems, contact Dr.
What are 3 treatments commonly used for infertility? ›
There are 3 main types of fertility treatment:
- medicines.
- surgical procedures.
- assisted conception – including intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilisation (IVF)
Erramatti Mangamma currently holds the record for being the oldest living mother who gave birth at the age of 73 through in-vitro fertilisation via caesarean section in the city of Hyderabad, India. She delivered twin baby girls, making her also the oldest mother to give birth to twins.
What celebrities have had IVF miscarriages? ›
Many have suffered IVF failures, miscarriages or other forms of pregnancy loss. Some of them, including celebrities such as Carrie Underwood, Beyoncé, Céline Dion, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Obama, and Shawn Johnson-East have gone public with their struggles.
How common is infertility at 35? ›
Specifically, before 30, women have an 85 percent chance of conceiving within a year; at 30, those odds drop to 75 percent; and at 35 the chance drops to 66 percent, research has found. At 40, a woman has only a 44 percent chance of conceiving within 12 months.
Is 35 too late for IVF? ›
Realistically, you can always undergo IVF unless you have experienced ovarian failure and/or menopause. However, pregnancy success rates using your own eggs drops considerably for women over 40.
Is IVF worth it at 37? ›
IVF Success Rates 35 to 37
For a second or subsequent embryo transfer, the percentage of live births increases to 44.7%.
Can an infertile woman become fertile again? ›
Infertility Reversal in Women and in Men
Ovulation induction uses drugs to help a woman ovulate, or release an egg from her ovaries. Surgery can help reverse infertility in women by repairing blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, treating endometriosis, and removing uterine polyps or fibroids.
Problems with ovulation are the most common reasons for infertility in women. A woman's age, hormonal imbalances, weight, exposure to chemicals or radiation and cigarette smoking all have an impact on fertility.
What are 5 causes of infertility? ›
What causes infertility?
- untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea.
- not ovulating (not releasing eggs from your ovaries)
- your fallopian tubes are blocked so sperm can't get to your egg.
- poor egg quality.
- the shape of your uterus makes it hard for a fertilized egg to implant.
- endometriosis.
- uterine fibroids.
INVOcell, an FDA-approved fertility treatment now offered at Main Line Fertility, costs roughly 40 percent less than traditional In Vitro Fertilization.
What drugs boost fertility? ›
Fertility drugs include:
- Clomiphene citrate. ...
- Gonadotropins. ...
- Metformin. ...
- Letrozole. ...
- Bromocriptine.
What can I do to promote female fertility?
- Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or significantly underweight can inhibit normal ovulation.
- Prevent sexually transmitted infections. Infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea are a leading cause of infertility for women.
- Avoid the night shift, if possible.
Most individuals and couples undergo two to three IVF cycles before conception has taken place. Sometimes, women abandon the IVF process too early, such as after only two or three cycles. Yet, there is some evidence showing that success rates increase with more IVF cycles, such as after six cycles.
Who has the highest success rate for IVF in NYC? ›
Kofinas Fertility Group has the highest IVF Success Rates in New York, with a 65.8% live birth success rate under the age of 35.
Who is most successful with IVF? ›
Studies show that women in their 20s and 30s have the most success when getting pregnant through IVF and other reproductive technologies. According to the CDC, the average percentages of assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles that lead to a live birth are: 31% in women younger than 35 years of age.
Where did Giuliana Rancic go for IVF? ›
But what actually happened as Giuliana Rancic began her IVF process back in the fall of 2011 truly left her floored. Informed that part of the standard operating procedure at Denver's Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine was a mammogram, she was surprised.
