Gabrielle Union is opening up about her infertility struggles. In her new (and brilliantly titled) memoir We're Going to Need More Wine, Union revealed that she has suffered multiple miscarriages while trying to have a baby with husband Dwyane Wade. Union also discussed what inspired to pursue pregnancy.
"I have had eight or nine miscarriages," Union revealed in the new book, excerpted by People Wednesday. "For three years, my body has been a prisoner of trying to get pregnant — I’ve either been about to go into an IVF cycle, in the middle of an IVF cycle, or coming out of an IVF cycle."
Union also addressed the inherent problems behind people who always insist on asking women their stance on having children. "A lot of people, especially people that have fertility issues, just say 'no' because that’s a lot easier than being honest about whatever is actually going on," she explained. "People mean so well, but they have no idea the harm or frustration it can cause."
Becoming a stepmother upon marrying Wade is what ultimately inspired Union to start IVF treatments. "I never wanted kids," Union said. "Then I became a stepmom and there was no place I'd rather be than with them."
We're Going to Need More Wine is out Oct. 17. Catch Union on her extensive book tour later this month.
Union recently spoke with Dria Roland for Complex, opening up about her path to eventually penning a book. She had been approached "many times" over the years about similar projects, but only recently pushed past her initial doubts about telling her story. "I started doing the work to help myself feel like I was worthy and I had value, and the more work I did on myself the more I was like, 'OK, I wanna tell this story too,'" she said.
