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In both her work and private life, Erin Andrews has shown remarkable resilience, which has served her tremendously in the challenges that life has thrown at her. Be it fighting through cervical cancer or a decade-long battle with infertility at the age of 46, she has been a trooper in overcoming her obstacles.
Currently, she is sharing the challenges she underwent with her husband, retired NHL player Jarret Stoll, while starting their family. In an interview with E! News, Andrews opened up, saying, “There are a lot of reasons why people try to stay away from this.” Clearly understood here is the emotional burden and stigma that come with dealing with fertility treatments and therapy.
Speaking out and addressing those feelings turn into an empowering message for others who may be going through the same thing.
Setbacks and Perseverance
Becoming a mother was no walk in the park for Andrews. She and Stoll spent several years trying to get pregnant as they went through multiple cycles of in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
With every attempt, the hope of success was often overshadowed by the potential heartbreak. Andrews recalls the entire process as extremely draining and, at times, unbearable. In an attempt to make her life a little easier, she created small yet personal traditions that motivated her to keep going—one of them being a trip to McDonald's after her appointments.
"I would eat and cry in my car and call my husband: 'It didn't work again, but this sausage biscuit is so good."
It was a love-hate relationship and especially with the heartbreak, it gave her some comfort.
After all the challenges she faced, Andrews still stood her ground. Ultimately, Stoll and Andrews opted for surrogacy, which resulted in the birth of their son, Mack, in June 2023. While the journey wasn’t what she imagined it to be, she explains it was "the most amazing experience of our life."
Addressing the Lack of Conversations on Fertility Issues
Despite being public about her cervical cancer diagnosis in 2016, Andrews was not eager to share the struggles of her fertility. After years of suffering in silence, she underwent one of her final IVF attempts, after which she had an epiphany.
"I was sitting in a waiting room, I think on our eighth try, and I was just so sick of it," she said. "These waiting rooms are packed. Why am I being so embarrassed and quiet about this?"
Determined to make changes, she began to speak publicly, which led to an outpouring of support. Many people reached out to her and shared their personal stories along with words of encouragement, which served as motivation.
Being an Advocate on Health and Wellness Issues
Today, Andrews is encouraging everyone to take action on their health concerns—fertility or otherwise. She has joined hands with AstraZeneca and Hockey Fights Cancer to promote regular screenings and proactive methods of prevention. Andrews understands the life-saving effects of timely healthcare intervention, having dealt with cervical cancer and received treatment in a timely manner.
Even though she describes herself as a chronic procrastinator when it comes to check-ups, she still emphasizes pushing beyond that fear.
“Because you want to walk out of there and think, ‘Oh my god. Why did I put this off?’”
Overcoming Challenges While Reaping the Benefits
Though the emotional scars from past losses still linger, motherhood has brought immense joy to Andrews.
“There’s a lot of PTSD from the loss that we’ve had,” she said. “But we also know the end result is really fun.”
As she manages life with her young son, she hopes her story can lend a hand to those grappling with infertility as a source of relief and motivation. Although the path may be long and winding, she believes that by sharing and showing care for one another, we can all help make the journey a little less isolating.
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