Tanya Hennessy opens up about endometriosis and ongoing IVF journey

A popular Aussie comedian has made a tragic health admission, revealing it led to a horrific TV moment that left her unable to get up from her seat.

Aussie comedian Tanya Hennessy has just finished her sixth round of IVF, with the star revealing she has “almost nothing to show for it” and is “in the depth of infertility sadness”.

Hennessy, 38, is shocked that she is still at this point. She’s heard people talk about IVF before, but it was always after they’d had success.

“You hear about the destination, and you don’t hear about the journey,” she told news.com.au.

Ms Hennessy has done six rounds of IVF, and at most, they cost around $16,000.

She doesn’t want to crunch the numbers and know how much she’s spent because she knows the answer might make her feel like she can’t keep going.

Hennessy was diagnosed with endometriosis at 35. By this time, she was already trying to start a family.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to that which normally lines the uterus grows in other parts of the body, usually the pelvic region.

It can cause chronic pain and, for many, can result in infertility issues.

Medicare is failing women and it’s About Bloody Time things changed. Around 1 million suffer from endometriosis. There is no cure. Help is hard to come by and in rural or regional areas, it’s virtually impossible. We are campaigning for longer, Medicare-funded consultations for endometriosis diagnosis and treatment. Read more about the campaign and sign the petition here.

Tanya Hennessyhas been trying to have a baby for six years. Picture:Instagram/tanhennessy

Tanya with her partner Tom. Picture: Instagram/tanhennessy

Hennessy said the reason it took her so long to get diagnosed is because of the lack of “education” around the disease and the culture that tells women it is normal to be in pain.

“Normally, when you have a problem, you go to the doctor and get it fixed. When you have endo, they are like, we can try this and try that,” she said.

When the comedian started her IVF journey three years ago, she figured she would stop after the third round, but now she’s just finished her sixth and she’s not ruling out a seventh time.

While it is tough to keep going, she said it feels easier than stopping because it means there is still “hope”.

She said she will take the discomfort, the heavy periods, the days she can’t walk and the awkward conversations with employers if there is a baby at the end of the line.

“It is the economy of hope and it is brutal. I know these doctors are trying their absolute hardest, and I’ve done everything and I’m trying my hardest, but it hasn’t happened,” she said.

She recently posted about her journey online in an effort to show other women going through the same thing that they aren’t alone.

“I have rashes from the stress. I just don’t have much left in the tank to keep doing it. I said I wouldn’t talk about (it) anymore. But it’s eating me alive,” she wrote.

“I’m so embarrassed because every time I hear about that IVF miracle or that natural conception before/after IVF. I think that could be me, but it never is. It never is.”

She was diagnosed with endometriosis at 35. Picture:Instagram/tanhennessy

She is open about her IVF journey. Picture:Instagram/tanhennessy

Hennessy has never been afraid to try. She’s built her career off trying things, whether it’s radio or reality television.

At the start of her journey to have a baby, she tried everything from weird diets she read about online to acupuncture treatment to improve her chances, but nothing led to success.

Even when she finally had surgery to treat her endometriosis, she was later told by her surgeon she would need to have “revision” surgery because it didn’t quite take.

Then there’s the fact that the rounds of IVF inflame the endometriosis, saying the side effects aren’t exactly “sexy”.

She said that working in comedy and having a chronic illness is nothing short of “f**ked up”, especially when you’re on live television and suddenly realise your very heavy period has arrived.

“I’ve done panel shows where I’ve bled out and I’ve left blood on the chair, and everyone is wrapping up, but I can’t get up … because I need to tell someone what has happened,” she said.

Ms Hennessy said when those moments happen it just feels like the “worst” on a bad day, and on a good day it feels “annoying.”

Sure, she does her best to find the funny side of things. She jokes about the fact that she goes to the doctor monthly because every time she gets her period, she needs a prescription for pain medication.

The ridiculousness of the situation amuses her. She says it should be easier, there should be more answers and fewer question marks, but there aren’t.

The lack of awareness is tough in her work, which often involves events, publicity and people taking a lot of photos.

She’ll go to fittings for red carpet events and people will be confused by the fact she’s swollen or gained weight.

She doesn’t tell them about the IVF or the hope of a possible pregnancy. Instead, she cracks jokes, she tries to get through it and she rolls her eyes when people comment on her weight.

Hennessey said she knows this happens to so many women, she knows people who have gone through over 18 cycles.

“You just want to win,” she said.

“I want to know what it is like to be a parent. I got a tattoo because I wanted to know what that felt like. I dyed my hair blonde because I wanted to know what it was like to be blonde. And I want this too.”

So far, her dreams of becoming a parent haven’t come to fruition, but she is determined. She said she is not quite sure what she will do if it doesn’t happen, saying its not a reality she is prepared to live with yet.

“It has been six years of infertility and so many people I know that weren’t even trying now have two-year-olds,” she said.

About Bloody Time is an editorial campaign by news.com.au that been developed in collaboration with scientists recommended by the Australian Science Media Centre, and with the support of a grant from the Walkley Foundation’s META Public Interest Journalism fund.