by Merry Armentrout
Baby rumors have swirled for weeks around celebrity stylist Rachael Zoe, and The American Fertility Association is excited to hear the rumors are in fact, true!
“Hey everyone!” The Rachel Zoe Project star tweeted today, “I want to officially confirm to my loyal friends and followers that I am pregnant!” Zoe continued, “I feel great, Rodger and I are beyond excited and so thankful for all of your love and support.”
The final episode of The Rachael Zoe Project Season 3 showed the Stylist to the Stars visiting a fertility clinic with her husband, Rodger Berman. After meeting with her physician, Rachel expressed her obviously heartfelt concern that after spending 15 years building her career, and now finally being ready for a family, she's being told it might be too late.
This moment is important for two reasons. The first, no matter who you are or what you do, the biological clock is a real thing and can't be ignored, or washed away by fame. Second, Zoe's forthright honesty has helped to educate millions of viewers by continuing the conversation about infertility, a subject often associated with shame or embarrassment that is in fact a reality that won't go away no matter how long you try to ignore it. In fact, the longer you wait, the worse it gets.
Surprisingly to many, one in 8 couples in the U.S. is infertile. The American Fertility Association's goal is to have everyone not only know this statistic, but more importantly understand this statistic. Many couples will be diagnosed with unexplained infertility - a frustrating prognosis for both the doctor and the patient. Something about infertility that is 100 percent certain- age and female fertility are related. The probability of a woman conceiving decreases 3-5 % per year after the age of 30, and at a faster rate after 40.
One step to overcoming infertility is being aware, and being aware at an early age. That's why The AFA is launching a speaking tour at college campuses in 2011. We'll be talking with young women and men about navigating career, education and family, all with the biological clock ticking in the background. Though there are advancements being made in fertility treatments, there are no treatments for "turning back" the biological clock.
To Rachel: we're thrilled your story ended positively. Congratulations and our sincere best wishes to you and Rodger for a happy, healthy baby. And thank you. Thank you for sharing your story. It's one that we hear far too often, and sadly one that doesn't always end with a baby. We hope that many of your fans - especially the young women who look up to you as a role model - heard the message and will pay attention to it as they seek out what is best for their lives. We would be honored to work with you in the future to bring this message to as many young women as possible.
Photo of Rachel: www.Style.com
Video: www.Bravo.com
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