When Public Figures Share Their Fertility Journey: Why It Matters
When Fox News contributor Leslie Marshall recently revealed that she experienced 11 miscarriages and 13 IVF cycles before becoming a parent through both adoption and IVF, her story made headlines. For many people navigating infertility, such openness from a public figure is more than a news item—it is a reminder that the path to parenthood is often far longer, more painful, and less predictable than society suggests.
This article explores what stories like Leslie Marshall's reveal about infertility: the emotional toll of repeated loss, the reality that building a family is not simple or guaranteed, and why sharing these experiences matters for reducing stigma and helping others feel less alone.
Infertility Often Looks Very Different Than People Expect
Why does the "typical" fertility story fall short?
Many people assume that infertility means a few failed cycles, a change in protocol, and then success—or that IVF is a straightforward solution. Leslie Marshall's experience—11 miscarriages and 13 IVF cycles—highlights how wrong that assumption can be. For countless individuals and couples, the journey involves repeated loss, multiple rounds of treatment, and no guarantee of a baby at the end.
When public figures share numbers like these, they normalize the fact that infertility is not a single hurdle but often a long, winding road. That visibility can help others recognize their own experience in the open instead of feeling like outliers.
The Emotional Toll of Repeated Loss
What does it mean to face miscarriage after miscarriage?
Eleven miscarriages represent not only physical and medical challenges but profound grief. Each loss can bring hope followed by devastation, and the cumulative weight is something that many people carry in silence. When someone in the public eye speaks about that reality, it validates the grief of those who have endured similar loss.
Acknowledging the emotional toll does not fix the pain, but it can reduce the isolation that so often accompanies infertility. It sends a message: you are not alone, and what you feel is real and worthy of care.
Stories like Marshall's can help by:
- Showing that even "success" (parenthood via adoption and IVF) can follow years of heartbreak
- Reminding people that building a family is not always linear or simple
- Reducing the shame that many feel when their journey does not match cultural expectations
Honest conversation about repeated loss does not replace professional support, but it can make it easier for people to seek that support and to speak openly with their care team and loved ones.
Why Building a Family Is Not Simple or Guaranteed
What does it mean to accept that parenthood is not a given?
Leslie Marshall's path included both adoption and IVF—a reminder that there is no single "right" way to build a family and that many people combine multiple paths. For some, IVF leads to a pregnancy that sticks; for others, adoption, donor conception, or other routes become part of the story. None of these outcomes are guaranteed, and the process is rarely quick or easy.
Accepting that reality can:
- Help set more realistic expectations and reduce the pressure to "just try harder"
- Open the door to conversations about alternative paths without shame
- Encourage partners and families to offer support instead of unsolicited advice
Public figures who share their full story—including the twists and the years of trying—help reframe what "building a family" can look like and why it deserves compassion, not judgment.
How Sharing Reduces Stigma and Eases Isolation
Why do stories like Leslie Marshall's matter for others?
When someone with a platform talks openly about miscarriage and IVF:
- Stigma weakens. The more we hear real numbers and real stories, the harder it becomes to treat infertility as a taboo or a personal failure.
- Others feel less alone. Someone in the spotlight saying "this happened to me" can make it easier for patients to say the same to their doctor, their partner, or a support group.
- Expectations shift. When we see that 11 miscarriages and 13 IVF cycles can be part of one person's journey, we start to accept that fertility struggles are often long and complex.
- Care improves. Normalizing these experiences encourages more honest dialogue between patients and providers, which can lead to better emotional and medical support.
No single story can represent everyone's experience, but each one that is shared honestly adds to a broader culture of transparency and compassion.
What Good Care Looks Like Along the Way
How can providers and communities support people in the thick of it?
Stories like Leslie Marshall's underscore the need for care that sees the whole person—not just the next cycle or the next transfer. That means acknowledging grief, offering space to talk about loss, and not minimizing the emotional weight of repeated disappointment.
Good care along a long fertility journey includes:
- Clear, honest communication about prognosis and options without false hope or dismissal
- Recognition that mental and emotional health are part of fertility care
- Support for considering alternative paths (adoption, donor conception, living without children) without pressure
- Respect for each person's pace and decisions, including when to pause or stop treatment
When public figures share their experiences, they also shine a light on what patients deserve: providers and communities that are "here every step of the way" with kindness and clarity.
How Her Serenity Supports Your Journey
What does transparency and community mean at Her Serenity?
At Her Serenity, we believe that transparency and community ease the isolation of fertility struggles. Our values of trust, kindness, and being here every step of the way align with why stories like Leslie Marshall's matter: they show the real, often long and painful path to parenthood and help people feel less alone.
- We prioritize honest, open conversation about loss and multiple IVF cycles as part of good care.
- We focus on "eyes to see what care truly looks and feels like" and "ears to hear what our patients and providers need most."
- We aim to build a supportive community where people can face fertility challenges without shame and with compassionate, expert support.
If you are in the midst of a long or painful fertility journey, you do not have to carry it alone. Sharing your story—when and how you choose—and seeking care that honors your experience can make a meaningful difference.
Taking the Next Step
How can I find support and care that fits my story?
If Leslie Marshall's story resonates with you—whether you have faced multiple miscarriages, several IVF cycles, or the quiet isolation of infertility—you deserve support that meets you where you are. There is no single "right" way to build a family, and your path is valid regardless of how long it takes or which options you pursue.
You can schedule a consultation to discuss your history, your emotions, and your goals. We are here to listen, to offer clear information, and to walk with you every step of the way— with the transparency and kindness that stories like Marshall's remind us everyone deserves.
Your journey is your own, but you do not have to face it in isolation. With the right support and a community that sees and hears you, you can move forward with clarity and compassion— for yourself and for the path you are on.