Jennie Garth opens up about IVF struggles and dual hip surgeries
The past few years haven't been easy for Jennie Garth. In her latest interview, the TV series star from Beverly Hills, 90210, spoke about the crisis in her relationship caused by persistent efforts to have a child and about two surgeries she had to undergo at a relatively young age.
Jennie Garth, known from the series "Beverly Hills, 90210," openly talked about her hip replacement surgery and the difficult experiences related to in vitro fertilisation. In a video interview for the magazine "Self," the actress shared her story of trying to get pregnant via IVF just before a short separation from her husband, Dave Abrams, in 2018.
"We tried literally everything to have a child, but it wasn't working out," the actress revealed. "It was really hard for both of us, individually and in our relationship," she added. The frustration and constant tension caused the couple to break up. Fortunately, they quickly realised that they could also form a family without a child together. "When we decided to let go of that option, it kind of freed us to love in a different way," Jennie confessed.
Garth, who has three children with her ex-husband Peter Facinelli, also described her struggles with hip pain, which started after years of horseback riding and dancing. The symptoms gradually became more severe until the pain was so intense that she couldn't even walk her dogs. Doctors discovered she had osteoporosis in her thumbs, knees, and hips. At 48, she felt that her "quality of life was deteriorating." She was told her left hip joint needed replacement as the surrounding tissues were deteriorating.
The actress wanted to return to normal as soon as possible, so she asked for the first available surgery date. Despite the difficulties related to the pandemic, she was eventually able to undergo the surgery on her left hip. After the operation, she could immediately return to normal activities, such as daily chores. "In the first years after the surgery, I felt like the Bionic Woman. There was nothing I couldn't do," she revealed.
Unfortunately, the pain also appeared in her right hip. "When doctors examined my right hip, it turned out to be in worse condition than the left ever was," Garth recalls. "Every step caused immense pain – I couldn't kneel or stand up. After the success of the left hip surgery, the decision for another surgery was obvious," said Jennie in the interview. The actress underwent the second surgery in March 2024. "The surgery went well, but the recovery process took much longer," summarised the star about her health struggles.
