It’s hard to think that celebrities face the same problems the rest of us do. However, infertility isn’t something that discriminates based on wealth and status – it can affect anyone. Friends (1994-2004) star Jennifer Aniston has spoken out about her infertility journey and recently revealed that Adam Sandler and his wife have helped her feel supported every year by surprising her with flowers each Mother’s Day.
Jennifer Aniston’s struggles with infertility
For a long time, Jennifer Aniston kept her infertility struggles private. It wasn’t until she addressed the issue that people knew she was facing such a problem. She didn’t hide that having children was something she’d long tried for in the past, telling Allure in December 2022 that she “was trying to get pregnant,” but that “it was a challenging road for me, the baby-making road.”
She explained, “I would say my late 30s, 40s, I’d gone through really hard s**t, and if it wasn’t for going through that, I would’ve never become who I was meant to be.”
She added, “All the years and years and years of speculation… It was really hard. I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it. I was throwing everything at it. I would’ve given anything if someone had said to me, ‘Freeze your eggs. Do yourself a favor.’ You just don’t think it.”
Cruel assumptions by the media
At this critical point in her life, Jennifer Aniston was married to fellow actor Brad Pitt. Their relationship had been front-page news, so when they announced their divorce in 2005, the tabloids made hurtful assumptions as to why it had happened.
Aniston slammed claims that she “refused” to have children with Pitt, telling Allure, ” It was absolute lies.” She further explained that the narrative was “that I was just selfish. I just cared about my career. […] The reason my husband left me, why we broke up and ended our marriage, was because I wouldn’t give him a kid.”
The rumors cast a negative light on Aniston, making her responsible for the split. However, the pair never provided an explicit reason as to what caused their divorce.
Aniston discussed the situation in a 2016 article for HuffPost, writing, “For the record, I am not pregnant. What I am is fed up.” She added, “Here’s where I come out on this topic: we are complete with or without a mate, with or without a child. We get to decide for ourselves what is beautiful when it comes to our bodies. That decision is ours and ours alone.”
Adam Sandler’s touching gesture
Before Jennifer Aniston considered having children, she met Adam Sandler, and the two forged a long-lasting friendship that’s still strong today. Aware of her struggles with infertility, Sandler and his wife, Jackie, have sent flowers every year on Mother’s Day to show their love and support.
A source told PEOPLE in August 2023 that Aniston is “really happy right now,” adding, “She’s always been happy, though. Her dogs are her kids to her and why she’s always had them. Her IVF journey was private and hers, and those close to her knew but never asked.”
The source concluded, “She’s at peace and is very happy in her life. She’s in a great place, and she knows that. Kids or no kids, it didn’t change her.”
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Aniston herself shared that she has “zero regrets” about how things played out with her IVF journey. “Here I am today. The ship has sailed,” she said. “I actually feel a little relief now because there is no more, ‘Can I?’ I don’t have to think about that anymore.”