Celebrities are just like us. They experience infertility, too. In fact, many celebrities have relied on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and donor eggs to get pregnant.

However, the Hollywood mystique being what it is, celebrities are not always forthcoming on these matters. But when you find that an actress in her late 40s or mid-50s is suddenly pregnant, or giving birth to twins, the odds are good that she used IVF with donor eggs.

Marcia Cross, the “Desperate Housewives” actress, gave birth to twins at age 44. While she did not say that she used an egg donor, she did state that women her age rely on egg donors when they want to get pregnant.

In any case, Hollywood has been exploding with twins over the last several years, and older, healthy female celebrities are giving birth at much higher rates than ever before. We suspect that some of these pregnancies, at least, are thanks to IVF with donor eggs.

Celebrities who have admitted using donor eggs include:

Mariah Carey

The singer, songwriter & producer had twins conceived via egg donation when she was 41 years old. She talked openly about her fertility struggles, saying it was not easy for her or her husband, Nick Cannon.

Sonia Kruger

The host of “Today Extra” became pregnant at age 49 following IVF with egg donation. The television host has been open about her decision to use this procedure. She often refers to her experience as not a miracle but a feat of science.

Mary Coustas

The Australian actress and television personality gave birth to a daughter in 2014 following egg donation with IVF.

Neil Patrick Harris

Together with his husband David Burtka, the couple used both an egg donor and a gestational carrier for their twins born in 2010. In an interview at Oprah he said the process was: “Two eggs, two embryos, one of mine, one of his” to create their fraternal twins.

Elton John

Sir Elton John and husband David Furnish used egg donation and a gestational surrogate twice to build their family. Being so open about the process, while also being in the public eye, the couple helped normalize the stigma that usually surrounds alternative family-building methods.

The Process When Using Donor Eggs

Patients rely on egg donors for various reasons, including:

• Advanced age
• Early menopause
• Trauma
• Medical issues
• Same sex male relationships

Fortunately, donor eggs have very successful pregnancy and delivery rates. This is why Hollywood celebrities rely on donor eggs, even if they’re doing it discreetly. Because it’s reliable, using donor eggs usually does not come with years of trying or years of heartaches.

At GENESIS, we take a thorough medical history of you and your partner. Following this, we search for a suitable egg donor. This includes similar ethnic background and physical characteristics. The procedure can take several months because of the rigorous vetting process and the demand for donor eggs. Yes, Hollywood is not alone in the demand for donor eggs!

When a match is found, you begin taking medications that prepare your uterus for embryo implantation following fertilization of the donor egg.

Being an Egg Donor

For those looking to donate eggs, GENESIS recruits through word of mouth and advertising. All donors are rigorously screened for:

• Diseases
• Family history
• Family genetics
• Health and wellness
• Reproductive health
• Psychological stability

Donors are given injectable medications to bring multiple eggs to maturity for eventual fertilization. These eggs are taken from the ovaries under anesthesia.

Learn everything you need to know about becoming an egg donor!

Contact GENESIS Fertility New York

Donor egg programs are for everyone – not just celebrities. Our winning team of clinicians help people just like you every day to realize their dream of becoming a parent.

Original post: May 21, 2019
Updated: July 26, 2024