*Adrienne Bailon-Houghton is sharing new details about her difficult road to motherhood and the lasting effects of her fertility journey.
As Complex reports, during an appearance on the Angie Martinez IRL podcast on August 7, Houghton revealed that halting six years of in vitro fertilization treatments led to an unexpected health change: early menopause.
The former co-host of “The Real” has been candid about the toll of her fertility experience. In April, she told PEOPLE that she and her husband, gospel singer Israel Houghton, spent more than $1 million on fertility treatments. “I only did eight cycles of IVF, but that doesn’t include the IUIs and every other kind of imaginable treatment,” she explained. “It was a pretty tough six years of trying to have my son.”
Houghton anticipated an easy journey to motherhood, but instead encountered ongoing setbacks and profound discouragement. Through her faith, she found peace in trusting that “it’ll happen when it’s God’s timing.”
In August 2022, she welcomed her son, Ever James, via surrogacy. “Our baby boy is here & we are so in love,” Houghton shared on Instagram. “He is worth every tear, every disappointment, every delayed prayer, every IVF cycle, every miscarriage.”
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In 2023, Houghton opened up about another challenge, balancing her career with motherhood. In an emotional Instagram reel, she shared that being a working mom brings both joy and exhaustion.
“This working mom’s favorite job and title would forever and always be ‘Ever’s mommy,’” she said in a voiceover, noting that some days she feels overwhelmed by the demands of bicoastal living and running two companies.
“My baby boy, he makes it all worth it. He is my why,” she said, closing with encouragement to other mothers: “So, mamas out there, you got this. You’re killing it.”
