Bill Rancic on Infertility, Hope, and Keeping Things Sexy With Giuliana Rancic
Bill Rancic is so open to share, and we want to hear!
-Melissa Chapman, BettyConfidential.com
I'll admit the one and ONLY Celebrity Apprentice I really followed (or cared about for that matter) was the very first season, at the culmination of which Bill Rancic was named "Celebrity Apprentice of the Year." The years following his reality star turn have not only taken him through many a high-profile business deal, but have solidified one of the most important deals in his life to date: his marriage and union with E! Entertainment news correspondent Giuliana Rancic. Aside from their dazzling good looks and charm, what distinguishes this celeb couple from the throngs is their honest and raw sharing of their struggles to conceive. This is also one of the recurring themes of their show Giuliana and Bill on The Style Network. And that's what I adore about them.
Bill recently chatted with me about his partnership with RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association (RESOLVE), on a public education campaign, Destination: Family (mydestinationfamily.org), which will raise awareness about embryo donation, and about how he and his wife deal with their infertility issues and manage to keep their relationship going strong.
We always hear about infertility from the woman's perspective -- how has it been for you to talk about your struggles as a man, and be so public about it?
I will be honest with you -- infertility is a difficult thing to talk about. But it's something Giuliana and I have to face and get through together. Having a family means so much to us and I felt that sharing my side of the story is important.
So many celebrity couples struggle with infertility in silence. Why have you gone public with it?
We decided to go public in hopes of helping other couples. Infertility is an obstacle that many people face and are often uncomfortable talking about. Giuliana and I felt that sharing our story would encourage couples going through similar situations to remain hopeful and also realize that many people today are experiencing the same struggles.
Infertility can be difficult in a marriage -- how have you and your wife kept it from driving a wedge between you?
It is hard as a couple to go through tough times, but really we just try to always stay positive. Facing an obstacle of any kind is never going to be easy, but we know ultimately that staying strong and working through things together makes us stronger as a couple. ... People have to realize that all married couples are going to have to face obstacles of different sorts, but remaining supportive and honest to get through tough times will ultimately make a marriage stronger.
Why did you decide to get on board and be a voice for embryo donation -- is this something you feel is a good avenue to pursue if you're a couple experiencing infertility? And if a couple is interested in embryo donation, what do they need to do?
Embryo donation is something that Giuliana and I strongly believe in ever since we began having fertility troubles we decided to get on board to help other people in need. Embryo donation is a little known option for women and men who are trying to start a family but are having difficulty. In fact, one in eight U.S. couples of childbearing age is diagnosed with infertility. Some patients need advanced medical treatment for their infertility, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). In fertility clinics across the country, unused frozen embryos have been stored for couples or individuals who have undergone IVF. Most individuals who have embryos in storage plan to use them for future family building efforts, but for those who choose not to use the embryos, they may consider other options for their embryos including donation of the embryos to another couple.
If other couples are interested in embryo donation they can go to mydestinationfamily.org. For information on all family building options including, fertility treatment, third-party reproduction, adoption and childfree living visit, www.resolve.org.
Of course, our number one question: how do you and your wife keep your sex life from petering out when so much of the infertility struggle involves having to have sex on command?
Well, with a beautiful wife like Giuliana, it's not a difficult task! Having children is so important to the both of us and even when times are tough it's the idea of creating our own family that gives us the strength to remain hopeful.
We love your story and think the two of you are just so fun -- will there be another season of your reality show?
Yes, our next season begins in July so stay tuned. We have a lot of fun this season and go on many adventures.
And last but not least-- did you ever imagine was your experience on Celebrity Apprentice would lead you to who you've become? And do you credit it for introducing you to your wife?
I never imagined Apprentice would lead me to where I am now. Giuliana actually interviewed me and that is how we met, so yes, I do credit it for leading me to her.
Melissa Chapman blogs about her marriage and everything in between atwww.marriedmysugardaddy.com. Her work has appeared in
The Staten Island Advance, Care.com, ABC News, BlogHer, Baby Center, Momtourage, Lifetime Moms, Babble, The Washington Post, Time Out NY Kids and iVillage.
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