Professional dancer and singer Julianne Hough has shed light on a topic that remains shrouded in silence for many women.
The 36-year-old “Dancing with the Stars” professional took to Instagram to share a video in which she documents her fertility treatment journey.
The video showed Hough injecting herself with hormones, organising the necessary supplies and visiting her doctor over the course of several days.
In a detailed caption accompanying the video, Hough candidly discusses the complexities of navigating fertility.
“Navigating fertility is never simple, especially with endometriosis and my own personal timeline and hopes around having children … This is my third round of egg freezing and I know it’s not always the most comfortable thing to talk about, let alone share publicly. But I’ve realised how important it is to open up about these things.”
By discussing her personal experiences, Hough aims to inspire women worldwide who quietly make difficult decisions regarding their bodies and reproductive futures.
“It’s one of the most vulnerable experiences … physically, emotionally, and for sure hormonally. If sharing just a small piece of my journey helps someone feel less alone, or inspires them to ask questions and explore what’s right for them, then I feel like it’s worth it,” she said.
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Hough’s journey with fertility is not new.
She first revealed her plans to freeze her eggs in a 2020 interview with “Women’s Health”.
During the interview, she acknowledged how her endometriosis diagnosis motivated her to explore every available option for fertility preservation.
“I think the healthier I am from the inside out – as far as my beliefs, my energy, what I’m putting into my body – the better prepared I’ll be when the time comes,” Hough said.
She added: “It was more of a precautionary measure: Let’s do our due diligence for the future by freezing eggs.”
The response to Hough’s openness has been overwhelmingly positive, inspiring many to take part in the crucial conversation around fertility.
Medical professionals and fellow women took to the comments section to express their gratitude and solidarity.
@nataliecrawfordmd commented: “As a fertility doctor – thank you for sharing your experience and helping to break down the stigma.”
@meagannorriscoaching said: “The more we talk about it, the more powerful we become!”
Messages of support also flowed in from around the globe, with @sofi_millan from Colombia sharing, “Thank you for sharing. Sending love from Colombia. I’m struggling thinking about this topic and it’s nice to see I’m not alone.”
