Katie Lee is opening up about her struggle to get pregnant.
The Food Network star candidly revealed her infertility struggles in a lengthy note on Instagram on Wednesday, sharing that she's been hurt by fans' speculation over when she'll have kids.
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"I get multiple messages a day asking me if I'm pregnant or why I am not pregnant yet," Lee said. "There is so much pressure on women to look a certain way and while most mean well with baby questions, it can be hurtful. Many of you sent me messages sharing your personal stories of fertility issues. You helped me, so now I want to share my story with you."
The TV personality shared that after her September wedding to husband Ryan Biegel, she thought it would "be easy" to get pregnant. "Reproductive health is an entirely different ballgame," she noted.
"We were trying, I had to have surgery to correct a problem, got an infection, then I was so run down I got shingles. My doctor advised us to try IVF. We just finished the intense process only to get zero healthy embryos," Lee wrote. "Not only is IVF physically exhausting, the emotional toll is unparalleled. We were filled with hope and excitement only to be crushed."
"It is really hard to put on a happy face," she continued, explaining that she was hesitant to share her struggle with others, but was inspired by fans' messages about their own infertility. "When people ask me when I’m getting pregnant, it hurts. It’s just a reminder that I’m not. When they say I look like I’ve gained weight, I have. I can’t exercise as much and the hormones have made me bloated."
The 37-year-old ended her post on a hopeful note, saying she's been inspired by a priest's recent sermon on new beginnings. "I know a family will happen for us, it is just going to be a different journey than we imagined. We will keep working towards it. Someday we will have our happy new beginning and I pray any of you experiencing the same will have yours too," she wrote.
See more on stars who have opened up about infertility in the video below.
