Gwen Walz, wife of VP hopeful Tim Walz, shares their fertility journey

Gwen Walz, the wife of Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, has opened up about her deeply personal experience with fertility treatments, describing it as “incredibly personal and difficult.” She revealed that the couple’s journey involved intrauterine insemination (IUI), a fact that had previously been broadly misrepresented as in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Throughout the campaign, Tim Walz has shared their struggles with infertility but has often referred to it in general terms. He has linked their experience to the recent bans on IVF in Alabama and has criticized Republican policies that restrict reproductive rights.

In a candid conversation with Glamour, Gwen Walz reflected on the couple’s challenges, stating, “Like millions of families across the country, for years, Tim and I tried to start a family through fertility treatments. We followed the journey that is infertility — the anxiety, the agony, and the desperation that can eat away at your soul.” She expressed her dismay over the political climate that now threatens access to such essential care.

“Knowing that pain, I cannot fathom the cruelty of politicians who want to take away the freedom for couples to access the care they need,” she added. Her comments were prompted by the extreme measures affecting reproductive healthcare across America, especially in Alabama, which recently made accessing fertility treatments more difficult.

Tim Walz has consistently called attention to their fertility struggles. Recently, during a rally in Detroit, he highlighted the peril of banning IVF, stating, “This is very personal for my family. When my wife and I decided to have children, we went through two years of fertility treatment.” He emphasized the importance of supporting all methods of fertility treatments.

In an earlier interview, he also drew connections between Republican policies and personal family experiences with infertility. Criticizing GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, he pointed out that if restrictions were in place, he might not have been able to start his family. “My kids were born through that direct, you know, that way,” he noted.

While both IUI and IVF are fertility treatments, they differ significantly. IUI is less invasive and does not include the freezing or transferring of embryos, explaining why it hasn’t faced the same level of scrutiny as IVF. The Walz family’s willingness to speak out about their experiences adds weight to the urgent call for access to fertility treatments.

In Alabama, a recent Supreme Court ruling on frozen embryos classifying them as children has caused turbulence for IVF treatments. Many fertility clinics faced delays, halting procedures to avoid potential liability for discarded embryos, which are typically part of the IVF process.

This distinction between IUI and IVF sparked controversy when Vance attacked Tim Walz, claiming he misrepresented their journey by confusing the two procedures. “Like, you know the difference, right?” Vance said, accusing Walz of lying about his family’s experience.

The response from the Harris campaign deemed Vance’s comments “just another example of how cruel and out of touch Donald Trump and JD Vance are when it comes to women’s healthcare.” Campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg defended Tim Walz, suggesting that he speaks in a manner relatable to average people, using “commonly understood shorthand” for fertility treatments. Gwen Walz added that she was unfazed by her husband’s general terminology and remarked on the absurdity of the scrutiny they faced.

Reflecting on her initial reluctance to share her fertility story, Gwen explained that it stemmed from the emotional pain associated with it. During their treatment journey in the early 2000s, she confided only in one close neighbor, a nurse who assisted her with the necessary medical procedures.

She revealed, “I’d rush home from school and she would give me the shots to ensure we stayed on track.” It was only years later that many of their family and friends were aware of the couple’s experiences.

The insights into the Walz’s fertility journey led RESOLVE, a leading IVF advocacy organization, to clarify its previous characterizations of their experience. The group emphasized its support of all paths to parenthood and welcomed the Walz’s advocacy. Barbara Collura, President and CEO of RESOLVE, stated, “The ongoing conversation around the importance of IVF access and other fertility treatments has made millions of would-be parents across the country feel seen.”

She reinforced the need for decision-makers to facilitate rather than hinder individuals seeking to build their families.