Adrienne Houghton, after six years of fertility treatments, eight rounds of IVF, multiple miscarriages, and more than a million dollars spent trying to conceive, says the process left her body changed in ways she never anticipated. When she finally stopped IVF, her body crashed into early menopause.
Speaking candidly on the Angie Martinez IRL podcast, Adrienne revealed that ending fertility treatments triggered sudden and intense physical symptoms, including hot flashes
According to the actress, the overwhelming internal heat and heavy sweating made everyday moments feel unmanageable. During one hair appointment, she recalled, the stylist struggled to finish blow-drying her hair because her body kept overheating.
For years, Adrienne pushed through the physical strain of IVF while carrying the emotional weight of disappointment after disappointment. She admitted that she once believed motherhood would come easily. Instead, it became one of the most difficult chapters of her life. The toll was not only emotional, but deeply physical, revealing how much the body absorbs during prolonged fertility treatment.
In April, Adrienne told PEOPLE that she and her husband, gospel singer Israel Houghton, spent over $1 million on fertility care. That figure includes IVF cycles, IUIs, and nearly every medical option available to them. She was honest about the reality that such a journey is not financially accessible for most families. Still, she said she does not regret it.
“It was a pretty tough six years of trying to have my son,” she shared.
What stands out most in Adrienne’s story is how openly she speaks about grief alongside hope. She does not sugarcoat the miscarriages or the moments of doubt. She acknowledges the frustration of watching others move easily into parenthood while she waited and waited. At her lowest points, she leaned heavily on her faith, reminding herself that motherhood might come in a way she never planned.
In August 2022, Adrienne and Israel welcomed their son, Ever James, via surrogate. In her birth announcement, Adrienne described her son as worth every tear, every delayed prayer, every IVF cycle, and every heartbreak.
Today, Adrienne has launched the Faith and Familia Foundation to support families navigating infertility, loss, and alternative paths to parenthood. The foundation reflects her desire to create space for honesty around reproductive health, especially for women who feel pressured to suffer quietly.
