Chen Zihan, a renowned Chinese actress known for her roles in Madame White Snake (2006) and The Myth (2010), recently shared her deeply personal experience with in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The 47-year-old revealed on the Chinese variety show Our Love Song that she underwent 12 IVF cycles without success. Chen has been married to former Mediacorp actor Dai Xiangyu, 40, since 2016.
A Long and Painful IVF Journey
Chen explained that she took a three-year break from acting, from 2022 to 2025, specifically to focus on fertility treatments. She described the process as physically and emotionally exhausting. “During those three years, I underwent at least 12 IVF cycles, getting injections almost every single day,” Chen said. The egg-retrieval procedures were particularly painful, and the repeated failures led to emotional breakdowns, including moments when she cried publicly while leaning on her husband for support.
Motivations Beyond Family Pressure
When asked whether her fertility treatments were influenced by her in-laws’ expectations, Chen clarified that her decision was entirely personal. “It’s purely because I love children. I believe having a baby is an important part of life,” she said. This underscores the fact that many couples pursue IVF for deeply personal reasons, not solely due to familial or societal pressure.
The Emotional Toll on Marriage
The IVF journey also put a strain on Chen and Dai’s marriage. Dai reportedly asked Chen to stop IVF treatments, unable to bear seeing her in pain. At one point, he even considered divorce before discussing it with her, due to the combined pressures of a family member’s declining health, financial stress, and a year of living apart because of work commitments.
Chen sensed that their relationship was in trouble and requested a face-to-face meeting with Dai. She stated, “I’m the kind of person who fixes a broken TV, not someone who just replaces it.” During their meeting, Dai opened up about his pressures, and Chen expressed the hurt she had felt from being kept in the dark. Together, they chose to work on their marriage, demonstrating the importance of communication and support during highly stressful experiences like fertility treatments.
Finding Stability and Healing
Since reconciling, the couple has celebrated anniversaries and shared moments of joy, including adopting a stray cat. Chen has returned to acting and appears to be in good spirits. When contacted by a local Chinese-language newspaper, Dai declined an interview but noted that he and his wife were happy and that decisions about having children would be left to fate.
Understanding IVF and Its Challenges
Chen Zihan’s story highlights the physical, emotional, and relational challenges of IVF. Each cycle involves hormonal injections, egg retrieval, embryo transfer, and waiting periods, which can be taxing on both partners. While IVF offers hope to millions of couples worldwide, success rates vary depending on age, health, and other factors. Emotional support and open communication are essential to navigate the stress and maintain healthy relationships.
Conclusion
Chen and Dai’s experience underscores that the journey to parenthood is often complex and deeply personal. While IVF can bring hope, it can also test emotional resilience and marital bonds. Their story is a reminder of the importance of support, patience, and understanding when facing fertility challenges.
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