Erin Andrews didn’t just wake up one day and decide to become the face of fertility struggles. For years, she was the person you saw on the sidelines of the biggest NFL games, perfectly poised in a parka, delivering sharp stats while her own internal clock was ticking—not just from age, but from a medical crisis she kept under wraps.
When people talk about erin andrews egg freezing regret, they often assume she wishes she never did it. Or that she regrets waiting. But the reality is far more nuanced, messy, and frankly, heartbreaking. It wasn't about the act of freezing; it was about the false sense of security that little frozen "insurance policy" gave her.
She started this journey at 35. At the time, she wasn't even married to Jarret Stoll yet. She thought she was being smart. She thought she was "handling it."
Then came the 2016 cervical cancer diagnosis.
Suddenly, that "smart move" became a lifeline. But as the years rolled on and the rounds of IVF stacked up—nine rounds in total—the "insurance" didn't pay out the way she expected.
The Myth of the "Insurance Policy"
The term "insurance policy" is thrown around fertility clinics like it's a guaranteed check. Erin Andrews has been incredibly vocal about how this phrasing messed with her head. She once told Katie Couric Media that she essentially thought, "Oh, I have enough. This is great."
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She didn't realize that 11 eggs don't always equal 11 babies. Sometimes, they don't even equal one.
In her case, she’d have cycles where she’d harvest a decent amount of eggs, only to find out they couldn't create a single viable embryo. It’s a gut punch. You go through the hormones, the bloating, the "pin marks" on your skin (as she joked during a magazine shoot), only to end up with a big fat zero.
That’s where the "regret" part of erin andrews egg freezing regret actually sits. It's the regret of not knowing the math.
Statistics from the Southwest Fertility Center and other major clinics often highlight that egg freezing success rates drop significantly as women move through their 30s. Andrews was 35 when she started, but the process dragged into her 40s. By the time she was 43, she was writing essays about how her body felt "stacked against" her.
Nine Rounds of Hell
Nine.
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Think about that number for a second. That is nine months of daily injections. Nine times waking up from anesthesia after an egg retrieval. Nine times waiting for a phone call from an embryologist that could either make your year or break your soul.
She was doing this while traveling for the NFL. She’s been open about literally stabbing herself with hormone needles in a stadium bathroom during the third quarter of a game, then sprinting back out to the sidelines because a team just scored.
Why It Wasn't Just About the Eggs
- The Cancer Factor: Her 2016 cervical cancer diagnosis meant she had to have two surgeries. Her oncologist basically told her: "We need to do embryos now."
- The Emotional Toll: She admitted to "suppressing" her feelings for years. It’s a survival mechanism. If you’re a woman in a male-dominated field like sports broadcasting, you don't want to be the "girl with all the problems."
- The Relationship Strain: She and Jarret Stoll weren't even discussing marriage when the cancer hit. Suddenly, they were looking at diagrams of her uterus with a specialist.
The Surrogacy Heartbreak
By 2021, after those nine unsuccessful IVF cycles, the couple turned to surrogacy. Many people think surrogacy is the "easy" way out—the guaranteed baby.
It's not.
Their first attempt involved transferring two embryos. They had "false hope," thinking at least one would stick. Both failed. Andrews describes that loss as a total mental breakdown. She told reporters she couldn't even feel her legs when she got the news. She couldn't form sentences for a month.
When people search for erin andrews egg freezing regret, they are often looking for the moment she gave up. But she didn't.
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She eventually welcomed her son, Mack, via a second surrogate in June 2023. She called him her "golden embryo"—the last one they had left.
Why This Conversation Still Matters in 2026
Even after Mack was born, the struggle didn't end. In May 2025, Andrews shared on her Calm Down podcast that a surrogate carrying her second child had miscarried.
She was recording that podcast just hours after getting the news.
Why stay so public? Because she’s tired of the "strong woman" narrative. She’s tired of women sitting in packed fertility clinic waiting rooms feeling like failures.
"If you feel alone and you feel like a failure, I do too," she said. That's a powerful thing for a woman of her stature to admit.
The Realities Nobody Tells You
- Supplements aren't magic, but they matter. Andrews became a big advocate for Thorne supplements to help her follicle quality, though she admits it was overwhelming at first.
- The "village" is literal. She struggled with "mom guilt" after Mack was born because she had help (a baby nurse). She had to learn that it's okay not to do it all alone.
- Work is an escape. While some people need to retreat, Andrews used the NFL sidelines as an outlet to get away from her reality.
Actionable Insights for Your Own Journey
If you're looking at Erin's story and wondering what it means for you, here are a few things to keep in mind.
First, egg freezing is a bridge, not a destination. Don't treat it like a "set it and forget it" insurance policy. Ask your doctor for the "thaw-to-live-birth" statistics, not just the retrieval numbers.
Second, check your insurance early. Andrews has the means to do nine rounds of IVF, which can cost upwards of $20,000 to $30,000 per cycle. Most people don't. She actually started the "Mack Grant" through the organization Baby Quest to help couples cover these costs. If you're struggling financially, look into grants like hers or the Southwest Fertility Center programs.
Third, don't wait for a crisis to talk about it. One of Erin's biggest takeaways was that she wished she’d started the conversation sooner. Isolation is the biggest enemy of fertility.
The story of erin andrews egg freezing regret isn't a cautionary tale against the technology. It’s a cautionary tale against the silence and the misinformation that surrounds it. She doesn't regret trying; she regrets the "false hope" and the years she spent feeling like she had to hide her "broken" parts.
Today, she’s a mom to Mack. She’s a survivor. And she’s still on those sidelines, proving that you can be "the tired version" of yourself and still be your best self.
Next Steps for You: * Consult a specialist for an AMH test: This blood test gives a snapshot of your ovarian reserve and is a good starting point for any fertility discussion.
- Research fertility grants: If the cost is the main barrier, look into the Baby Quest Foundation or the Mack Grant specifically.
- Join a support group: Platforms like Rescripted or IVF Babble offer communities where you can talk to people who actually get the "needle stress" and the "waiting room anxiety."