Erin Andrews Shares Her Strategy for Facing Fertility Challenges
Erin Andrews recently shared insights into her challenging fertility journey with E! News. Throughout her decade-long struggle, she faced many difficult doctor appointments. Yet, she devised a comforting post-appointment ritual to ease her and her husband Jarret Stoll's frustrations.
"My fertility clinic was near McDonald's," she explained. "After each disappointing visit, I'd treat myself to a sausage biscuit with hash browns. I would eat and cry in my car, then call my husband. I’d say, 'It didn’t work again, but this biscuit is so good.'"
This light-hearted approach is something Andrews encourages for anyone facing similar struggles. "Visit the doctor, check it off your list," she advised. "It may feel tough, but focus on that great fast food meal afterward. This tactic helped me with both fertility and cancer visits. I would head straight to the drive-thru for a large meal."
Coaching Others Through the Experience
Now, Andrews wants to support others as they navigate their health journeys. Nearly a decade after a routine OB-GYN visit revealed her cervical cancer, she reflected on the experience. "Getting checked turned out to be essential because it was treatable. We caught it early," Andrews shared. Her multiple surgeries ultimately led to her being cancer-free.
Eager to help, she has collaborated with AstraZeneca and Hockey Fights Cancer for a public health campaign focusing on regular health check-ups. "Many people avoid appointments for various reasons," she acknowledged. "Common reasons include lack of time, forgetfulness, or anxiety about seeing a doctor. I can relate to all these feelings."
While Andrews adheres to regular mammograms and cancer screenings, she admits to postponing her annual full body scan at the dermatologist. "You really need to do these things," she urged. "Walking out with peace of mind makes it worthwhile. You will wonder why you waited."
Sharing the Journey
Though Andrews initially hesitated to discuss her fertility struggles, her perspective changed over time. "People sensed something was wrong given my age and our lack of children," she noted. One day, while waiting for her eighth procedure, she realized there was no reason to hide. "Why be embarrassed about this? Waiting rooms were crowded, so why not talk about it?"
Jarret Stoll was initially hesitant to share intimate details of their journey. However, with the joy of welcoming their son Mack via surrogate in June 2023, Andrews opened up. "Once we shared, the support via messages from people who understood was overwhelming," she recalled.
Even casual encounters now involve discussions about her surrogacy experience. "I recently had a woman ask about it while I was getting fitted for ski boots," Andrews reminisced. "I told her the journey wasn’t exactly what we planned, but it became an incredible experience. I’m happy to share resources that helped us."
Embracing Joyful Moments
Today, Andrews feels a sense of triumph amidst the challenging past. "While there's PTSD from our losses, the outcome is joyous," she reflected. Dressed casually for a Target run, she humorously described her son Mack as "a miniature Larry David." "He loves books and stickers, and despite his father's efforts to put a hockey stick in his hand, he's currently more into throwing balls."
With each moment, Erin Andrews embraces her journey, ready to inspire others along the way.
Earlier, SSP reported that Jessica Simpson reflected on separation from Eric Johnson while promoting new music.
