SNL’s Abby Elliott wants to share her “hardcore” IVF journey to raise more understanding
This Valentine’s Day, Saturday Night Live‘s Abby Elliott will be spending some intimate time with her husband, Billy Kennedy. “I’ll be getting shots in my butt by my husband,” the comedian explained on The Kelly Clarkson Show, joking, “Very romantic.” These hormone shots are part of the “hardcore” in-vitro fertilization (IVF) process she’s going through to try to conceive. Elliott said she wants to talk about her experience to shine more light on IVF and struggles with infertility in general.
“So many people go through this and we don’t talk about it enough, I think, as women, and we need to raise more understanding and awareness,” Elliott said on the talk show.
Clarkson was especially grateful to Elliott for sharing her experience, as the host noted that she watched many of her close friends struggle to get pregnant on their own. “I have friends who went through it and went through some serious depression, felt shame, felt like ‘What is wrong with me?’” Clarkson said.
Clarkson went on to say that her friends tried “everything under the sun” to get pregnant but “sometimes it just doesn’t happen and you need science to kind of help move it along”—and that’s perfectly okay.
Elliott agreed that experiencing fertility struggles and undergoing in IVF shouldn’t be a source of shame, saying it’s “such a miracle” what science can do.
Watch their candid conversation on The Kelly Clarkson Show below.
Elliott followed up on her talk show appearance via Instagram, sending her love to others who are going through IVF and/or infertility.
"This is an emotionally difficult process but in my case talking about it and hearing other people’s stories has made me feel less alone," she captioned her post. "To anyone going through infertility, you are so strong."
Other celebs, like Amy Schumer, are also doing the work to bring more awareness to IVF and give women more space to talk about their experiences. In January, Schumer shared a photo of her bruised stomach and got real about feeling “really run down and emotional” during week one of her IVF process.
She also asked for advice from her followers writing, “If anyone went through it and if you have any advice or wouldn’t mind sharing your experience with me please do. My number is in my bio.”
Just two days later, it’s clear that Schumer’s post resonated with many of her followers. She shared a photo of herself in a hospital chair, thanking the “ladies and a few gentlemen” who texted her and sharing the advice she received.
"I learned to eat salty food after and drink Gatorade. Ice the area. Take arnica and put arnica on the bruises. To be patient and kind to myself and that there are sooooo many of us willing to be there for each other. Your stories helped me more than you can imagine. I feel incredibly lucky," Schumer wrote.
We commend anyone who fights through the stigma to share their own experiences. It helps open the doors for all of us to ask for help when we need it.
