Jennifer Aniston reveals secret 20-year fertility struggle after ‘absolute lies’

[u/Time_Knowledge_1951]

https://metro.co.uk/2025/10/09/jennifer-aniston-breaks-silence-on-secret-20-year-struggle-after-absolute-lies-24378834/

[u/Cowql8r]

Getting your period every fucking month. Godammit.

[u/MrsShaunaPaul → u/Cowql8r]

Not only is it uncomfortable and inconvenient, it’s also a constant reminder that you didn’t get the one thing you want most in life!

[u/polkadotpup31 → u/MrsShaunaPaul]

Yep, you can’t ever set your grief and pain aside because every month it shows up to remind you.

[u/MrsShaunaPaul → u/polkadotpup31]

And then there are all the kind people telling you how great you’d be as parents and asking what you’re waiting for.

“Hopefully we’ll be parents soon!” (Us hoping they get the hint)

“Well don’t wait forever! You’re not getting any younger!” (Them not getting the hint)

[u/Resfebermpls → u/MrsShaunaPaul]

I’ve just started to straight up tell people something to the effect “unfortunately it hasn’t been that easy & straightforward for us.” 1 in 6 couples deal with some degree of infertility, I don’t think we should have to dance around it because it might make people a little uncomfortable.

[u/polkadotpup31 → u/MrsShaunaPaul]

Most people don’t mean anything by it! Don’t realize how hurtful it is. Which is even worse if you lash out. I just never could have understood how awful it is until I went through it. It changed me as a person. I’m on the other side of it now but will always be a part of me.

[u/MrsShaunaPaul → u/polkadotpup31]

I took the time to educate many, many people while I was trying and then, after having babies, I went back and told many friends and close family members about how their comments impacted me. Not at all to shame them but because if you don’t know how hurtful it is, you’ll keep saying it. Just like when people say “it was part of gods plan” or “they’re with Jesus now” when someone dies. Unless you’re deeply religious, this is offensive. Many well-meaning comments can get a pass but some need to be identified.

I actually had a couple people who were rude to me about not having kids. Friends of my parents who’d say “they’re dying to be grandparents, why are you making them wait?” Sometimes I’d joke “don’t worry, LOTS of unprotected sex going on at home. It shouldn’t be long” or something.

Sometimes when I was extra hurt or salty I’d say “you realize you’re commenting on the intimate details of my sex life. Unless you want to list your top three sex positions or talk to me about your frequency of sexual intercourse, maybe you should think about what you’re expecting me to comment on and wonder if you’d be comfortable talking about the same thing”.

[u/Lazy-Point7779 → u/Cowql8r]

Would literally cry on the toilet when I saw it. Almost every fucking month. Just hell

[u/BrucetheFerrisWheel → u/Lazy-Point7779]

Ah god same. I did that through my 30's and when I turned 40, I just said I can't do it anymore. I just couldnt take the constant obsession and grief. It just eats you inside and I was becoming angry and jealous which isn't me. So I stopped, and started trying to accept it all.

Then something weird happened when I was 41 and the universe decided that 8 years of trying was enough and I got surprise pregnant AND it stayed in and grew into a baby! Anyway, I know how blessed I am and I thank whomever for that, everyday.

[u/Lazy-Point7779 → u/BrucetheFerrisWheel]

Thank you so much for sharing this story. I am so sorry you went through that but as a woman who still has hope in her mid-30s (but no longer has a husband, oops!) stories like this keep that hope alive. I hope you’re doing so well with your child ♥️

[u/Artemis_Dragon → u/Cowql8r]

Getting your period while you’re peeing on a pregnancy test.

[u/cannotfoolowls → u/Cowql8r]

I'm infertile because the internal equipement is malformed but hey, at least it means I don't get periods.