Jennie Garth Went Through a ‘Really Hard’ IVF Journey Before Her 2018 Breakup With Dave Abrams
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Jennie Garth’s breakup with her husband, Dave Abrams, was hard for a lot of reasons. Separating from someone you love is always emotionally tough, of course. And for the 90210 star, there was another layer that made the split even more complicated.
In case you didn’t know (or need a refresher), Abrams filed for divorce in 2018, but the duo found their way back to each other less than a year later—and have been going strong ever since. At the time, Garth didn’t say much publicly about what exactly had happened. But in a new SELF video interview, she revealed that the couple had been undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments before their 10-month separation. “[We] were trying to have a baby, and it kept failing,” she told SELF. “And that was really, really hard on both of us individually and on our relationship.”
In general, the IVF process involves stimulating ovulation, retrieving those eggs from the ovaries, fertilizing them with sperm in a lab, and then transferring the embryo into the uterus in hopes of achieving a pregnancy. This treatment (which often requires multiple rounds) can be physically and emotionally draining. Not to mention, it can cost tens of thousands of dollars, with no guarantee of success.
Given these challenges, it’s understandable that couples who go through IVF may experience intense stress, hopelessness, anxiety, and depression—all of which can take a serious toll on the relationship.
“My physical state has nothing to do with my spirit, and I still have a young spirit.”
After several unsuccessful rounds, Garth explained, she and Abrams decided to let go of the possibility of having kids together—a decision that “freed us up to love each other in a different way.” “Dave is just an incredibly supportive, loving person,” she said, adding that she’s been able to appreciate her husband even more since they took the pressure off. “He’s just always thinking of how he can make me happy and make the day go better. I’m so grateful for the generosity of his spirit and his love.”
Along with her IVF journey, Garth admitted she’s had to overcome a lot of other setbacks in her life—including an osteoarthritis diagnosis and two hip replacements. Through all these struggles, though, she’s learned an important lesson: to love and be kind to herself. “You come to this place where you’re like, I don’t want to waste this precious time on earth worrying what other people think of me,” she added. “And I have to tell you: It really is the best time of my life.”
Related:
7 Ways to Show Up for a Friend Who Is Dealing With Infertility
How to Get Your Partner to Talk About Their Feelings and Emotions More
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Originally Appeared on SELF
