Naomi Watts has long been candid about her experience with early menopause, revealing that she began the transition at just 36 years old. Now, in her newly released book, Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause, she details the challenges she faced with infertility, her journey to motherhood, and the emotional toll of hormone struggles.
Facing Infertility at 36
Watts admits that she assumed pregnancy would happen quickly once she was ready to conceive. “I always dreamed I’d be a young mother, but never got around to it,” she writes. “I’d spent my entire adult life up to that point trying to avoid pregnancy, and so once I felt ready, at age 36, I assumed I’d get pregnant on my first go—maybe my second or third at most. Months went by. Nothing.”
Determined to conceive, Watts turned to fertility treatments, including Clomid and intrauterine insemination (IUI). However, her hormone levels made her ineligible for IVF—a devastating realisation. “I would have eaten my dog’s toenails if someone told me it would help,” she admits, reflecting on the desperation many women feel when struggling with fertility.
A Happy Ending—But Not Without Heartache
Despite the challenges, Watts ultimately became pregnant without IVF and went on to have two children with then-partner Liev Schreiber. She welcomed her son Sasha in 2007, followed by Kai in 2008, at ages 38 and 40.
In her book, she acknowledges the emotional complexity of infertility, sharing that while she was thrilled to have children, she wanted more. “I’d wanted more than two, actually—but alas, by that point, time really had run out.”
Breaking the Silence on Infertility and Menopause
Watts has used her platform to raise awareness about reproductive health, especially early menopause and infertility—topics that remain heavily stigmatised. By sharing her story, she hopes to empower women with knowledge and support.
Her book is a reminder that fertility struggles can happen at any age, and that understanding our bodies, hormones, and reproductive timelines is crucial. As conversations around menopause and infertility continue to grow, Watts’ honesty is a powerful step forward in destigmatising these deeply personal experiences.
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