Fertility journeys are intensely personal and can be so life-changing that it’s no surprise when people choose to keep them private. That’s especially true of those in the public eye, who may not want the whole world (or at least the whole Internet) weighing in on their difficult decisions. So we don’t blame Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola, of Jersey Shore fame, for her anxiety around sharing her IVF experience on the show’s reboot, Jersey Shore: Family Vacation — but she chose to take the plunge anyway.
Social media, Giancola told Page Six‘s Virtual Reali-Tea podcast, played a big part in that decision. “I was leaning on other platforms like Instagram and TikTok and seeing what other people were going through,” she remembered. “And by watching and learning from them, I was starting to realize, ‘Maybe I should talk about this… because maybe somebody else can relate to me or maybe I can help somebody else.’”
Giancola is honest about her fears when it comes to sharing the super-personal journey. The current contentious climate around IVF didn’t help. “Some people don’t believe in IVF, so I was nervous to tell anybody,” she said, though she said she started talking more to her cast mates about the experience “at the end,” adding, “It was nice to get the girls’ support.”
It’s not the first time Giancola has opened up about her reproductive journey. In 2023, the reality star spoke on Jersey Shore about her decision to freeze her eggs on Jersey Shore, when she was just starting to date her now-fiancé, Justin May. “At 36 I thought truthfully I would be like married, with kids, living in some house somewhere, and it’s just not where I’m at right now in my life,” Giancola, now 37, said at the time. And she didn’t hide how she felt about it. “It sucks to be a woman at this age. It really is terrible.”
Giancola admitted she was “so nervous” to share her IVF journey with the world, telling the New York Post that she wanted to keep it a secret in case the treatment didn’t go well. “I would be devastated if it doesn’t work,” she explained. “I’m gonna have to then tell people that it didn’t work and … I didn’t know if I was strong enough to do that. You’re gonna see how everything plays out [on the show] but I really kept it private for a really long time.”
It’s a totally understandable position for anyone going through fertility treatments — you want to tell your loved ones so you can lean on their support, but having to possibly break the news that the treatment didn’t work is a devastating prospect. Now add on the pressure of being in the public eye and it’s no wonder Giancola had reservations. “It’s so personal,” she said in the podcast interview. “I feel like I’m still nervous to watch it and I’m still nervous to see what people say. It’s a very vulnerable stage in my life.”
So many other people can relate — and that why we’re so grateful for Giancola’s honesty and vulnerability. The first steps of her IVF journey are already making the rounds on YouTube, where the comment section is full of supportive viewers and people going through similar struggles. “Fertility struggles are so difficult,” wrote one person. “You truly have no idea what it is like until you’re going through it yourself.”
Breaking down the stigma around fertility — which means speaking out about our experiences like Giancola, even when it’s hard — can help more people understand while supporting others through their own struggles.
For Giancola, who notes she’s “still on this journey” of IVF, that support has been key. “It’s a difficult journey,” she said. “But it’s nice to hear other people’s stories and… just having the support there is really really nice.”
Before you go, read about these celebs who are opening up about their health to address stigma: