By Paul GlynnEntertainment reporter
Apple TV+ via Premier PR
Jennifer Aniston has spoken about trying to get pregnant through IVF but says that "the ship has sailed".
The actress, 53, best known for playing Rachel Green in Friends, said she privately went through a difficult time in her late 30s and 40s, while under media scrutiny.
"I was trying to get pregnant," she said.
She told the magazine Allure she wished someone had told her to freeze her eggs.
"It was a challenging road for me, the baby-making road," she added.
"All the years and years of speculation... It was really hard. I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it."
But she told the magazine that she had "zero regrets."
She added: "I would've given anything if someone had said to me, 'Freeze your eggs. Do yourself a favour.' You just don't think it. So here I am today," she said. "The ship has sailed."
'Narrative that I was just selfish'
In 2018, Aniston and actor Justin Theroux announced they had separated after two years of marriage. Before that, she was married to actor Brad Pitt.
She suggested the media can be cruel towards women in the industry who do not have children, and created a "narrative that I was just selfish" and "just cared about my career".
"And God forbid a woman is successful and doesn't have a child," she said.
Addressing her marriage to Brad Pitt, she said: "And the reason my husband left me, why we broke up and ended our marriage, was because I wouldn't give him a kid. It was absolute lies. I don't have anything to hide at this point."
The star, who is appearing in the Apple TV+ series The Morning Show, went on to say she felt "a little relief now" about being older and found it "liberating", because "there is no more, 'Can I? Maybe. Maybe. Maybe'. I don't have to think about that any more", she explained.
"I've spent so many years protecting my story about IVF. I'm so protective of these parts because I feel like there's so little that I get to keep to myself," she continued.
IVF is a process of fertilisation where an egg is combined with sperm outside the body, then embryos are inserted into the mother's womb.
"The [world] creates narratives that aren't true, so I might as well tell the truth. I feel like I'm coming out of hibernation. I don't have anything to hide," Aniston added.
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As an expert in reproductive health and fertility, my extensive knowledge in the field allows me to shed light on the concepts mentioned in the article about Jennifer Aniston's experience with IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) and her struggles with fertility. Drawing on my expertise, let's delve into the key concepts used in the article:
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IVF (In Vitro Fertilization):
- In vitro fertilization is a reproductive technology where an egg and sperm are combined outside the body to create an embryo.
- The process involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, retrieving the eggs from the ovaries, fertilizing them with sperm in a laboratory dish, and then implanting the resulting embryos into the uterus.
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Egg Freezing:
- Jennifer Aniston expresses a wish that someone had advised her to freeze her eggs. Egg freezing involves preserving a woman's eggs at a younger age for potential future use, providing a fertility option later in life.
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Media Scrutiny and Celebrity Challenges:
- Aniston highlights the challenges of going through fertility treatments under media scrutiny, discussing the difficulty she faced in her late 30s and 40s while trying to get pregnant.
- The article touches upon the media's portrayal of women in the entertainment industry, especially those who choose not to have children, and the narrative of selfishness that can be imposed on successful women.
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Personal Journey and Marriage:
- Aniston shares her personal journey, mentioning her experiences with IVF and the emotional toll it took on her.
- She dispels rumors and addresses false narratives, such as the suggestion that her marriage to Brad Pitt ended because she wouldn't have a child. Aniston emphasizes that these claims were untrue.
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Liberty in Aging:
- Aniston reflects on feeling liberated in her older age, expressing relief that she no longer has to grapple with the uncertainty of fertility and the societal pressures associated with it.
- She mentions the freedom from the constant questioning and speculation about her reproductive choices.
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Narrative Correction:
- The article discusses Aniston's decision to speak openly about her experiences, correcting false narratives and dispelling rumors. She expresses a sense of relief in sharing her truth and no longer feeling the need to protect certain aspects of her life.
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The Morning Show and Personal Growth:
- Aniston, currently starring in the Apple TV+ series "The Morning Show," suggests that she is in a phase of personal growth and liberation, where she feels more comfortable sharing her experiences.
In summary, the article delves into Jennifer Aniston's journey with fertility treatments, the challenges she faced in the public eye, and her eventual sense of liberation and freedom from societal expectations as she embraces her current stage in life.
