There’s a reason Jennifer Aniston chose not to adopt children after her 20-year struggle to have a baby, which concluded ‘several years ago’ after attempting IVF.
‘There’s a point where it’s like out of my control. There’s literally nothing I can do about it,’ the 56-year-old Friends alum shared in a preview of the October 20th episode of the Armchair Expert podcast.
‘When people say, “But you can adopt,” I don’t want to adopt. I want my own DNA in a little person. That’s the only way, selfish or not, whatever that is, I’ve wanted it.’
Jennifer – who’s found peace with her infertility – continued: ‘It just wasn’t in the plan, whatever the plan was…it’s very emotional, especially at the moment when [doctors] say “That’s it,” because there is a weird moment when that happens.’
Aniston recalled the times she thought she and past partners ‘would have made some good kids’ but the moment usually passed ‘within three seconds.’
Earlier this month, the Emmy winner explained why she chose to write a ‘Fed Up’ essay in the Huffington Post in 2016, where she stated, ‘We are complete with or without a mate, with or without a child.’
There’s a reason Jennifer Aniston chose not to adopt children following her 20-year struggle to conceive, which concluded ‘several years ago’ after trying IVF (pictured September 9).
‘They didn’t know my story, or what I’d been going through over the past 20 years to try to pursue a family, because I don’t go out there and tell them my medical woes,’ Jennifer said in her Harper’s Bazaar UK cover story.
‘That’s not anybody’s business. But there comes a point when you can’t not hear it – the narrative about how I won’t have a baby, won’t have a family, because I’m selfish, a workaholic. It does affect me – I’m just a human being. We’re all human beings.
‘That’s why I thought, “What the hell?” because I knew a lot of women at the time who were trying to have kids, who were dealing with IVF. So it did feel like it was not only for myself, but for any women who were struggling with the same issue.’
Aniston was married to two-time Oscar winner Brad Pitt for five years until their January 2005 separation – five months after he began filming Doug Liman’s spy comedy Mr. & Mrs. Smith with his future second ex-wife Angelina Jolie.
The couple formerly known as ‘Brangelina’ went on to adopt/welcome six children – son Maddox, 24; son Pax, 21; daughter Zahara, 20; daughter Shiloh, 19; as well as twins Knox and Vivienne, 17 – most of whom are now estranged from the 61-year-old F1 producer-star.
It’s worth noting the LolaVie founder met her Wanderlust castmate Justin Theroux in 2011 while he was living with his ‘blindsided’ girlfriend of 14 years – Heidi Bivens – and they tied the knot in a 2012 non-legally binding ceremony before splitting in 2017.
The 56-year-old Friends alum explained in a sneak peek of the October 20th episode of the Armchair Expert podcast: ‘When people say, “But you can adopt,” I don’t want to adopt. I want my own DNA in a little person. That’s the only way, selfish or not, whatever that is, I’ve wanted it’
![Jennifer - who's made peace with her infertility - continued: 'It just wasn't in the plan, whatever the plan was...it's very emotional, especially in the moment when [doctors] say "That's it," because there is a weird moment when that happens'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/10/14/05/102962519-15189415-Jennifer_who_s_made_peace_with_her_infertility_continued_It_just-a-10_1760417995638.jpg)
Jennifer – who’s made peace with her infertility – continued: ‘It just wasn’t in the plan, whatever the plan was…it’s very emotional, especially in the moment when [doctors] say “That’s it,” because there is a weird moment when that happens’
Aniston was married to two-time Oscar winner Brad Pitt (L, pictured in 2004) for five years until their January 2005 separation – five months after he began filming Doug Liman’s spy comedy Mr. & Mrs. Smith with his future second ex-wife Angelina Jolie
The couple formerly known as ‘Brangelina’ went on to adopt/welcome six children most of whom are now estranged from the 61-year-old F1 producer-star (pictured in 2011)
It’s worth noting the Emmy winner met her Wanderlust castmate Justin Theroux in 2011 while he was living with his ‘blindsided’ girlfriend of 14 years – Heidi Bivens – and they tied the knot in a 2012 non-legally binding ceremony before splitting in 2017 (pictured)
Jennifer officially became a godmother in 2004 when her Friends castmate Courteney Cox welcomed her now 21-year-old daughter Coco with then husband David Arquette, whom she divorced in 2013.
Aniston also dotes on her two fur babies – Labrador Retriever Lord Chesterfield and Schnauzer mix Clyde.
The LA-born, NY-raised blonde has been dating hypnotist Jim Curtis since the summer.
Last April, Jennifer told Travel + Leisure that she used hypnosis to help overcome her fear of flying – hinting that this was how she originally met the 49-year-old transformational coach.
Jim previously dated The Real Housewives of New York City alum Bethenny Frankel, and he divorced his ex-wife Rachel Napolitano soon after she welcomed their teenage son Aidan.
‘I can’t keep a girlfriend because I get bored,’ Curtis admitted in his 2017 book The Stimulati Experience.
‘I wish I had a better relationship with my son, but he lives with his mother [in New York] most of the time, and he’s pi**ed at me.’
Jennifer officially became a godmother in 2004 when her Friends castmate Courteney Cox (L, pictured in 2023) welcomed her now 21-year-old daughter Coco (M) with then husband David Arquette, whom she divorced in 2013
Aniston also dotes on her two fur babies – Labrador Retriever Lord Chesterfield and Schnauzer mix Clyde (pictured November 20)
The LA-born, NY-raised blonde has been dating hypnotist Jim Curtis (R, pictured September 5) since the summer
Jennifer reportedly earned $2M per episode executive producing and reprising her role as UBA co-host Alex Levy in Charlotte Stoudt’s 10-episode fourth season of The Morning Show, which airs Wednesdays on Apple TV+
Aniston reportedly earned $2M per episode executive producing and reprising her role as UBA co-host Alex Levy in Charlotte Stoudt’s 10-episode fourth season of The Morning Show, which airs Wednesdays on Apple TV+.
The Pvolve brand ambassador originally based her character off the trailblazing broadcast journalist, Diane Sawyer.
The hit newsroom drama is a loose adaptation of Brian Stelter’s 2013 book Top of the Morning, and season four is set two years after the UBA-NBN merger.
Jennifer will soon produce and star in the Apple TV+ adaptation of former child star Jennette McCurdy’s 2022 memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died, and she’ll produce the Gen Z reboot of 9 to 5 penned by Diablo Cody.
