Samantha Armytage Reveals Private IVF Journey
The 50-year-old broadcaster disclosed her years of fertility treatment and multiple miscarriages on her interview series Act Two.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Divorce
Samantha Armytage, 50, revealed her private IVF and infertility experience in an episode of her interview series Act Two with Samantha Armytage. She said she and her ex-husband underwent IVF, endured many miscarriages, and did not achieve the baby they were trying for.
Why it matters
Armytage had not previously disclosed the experience publicly, offering a candid account of fertility struggles that many Australians face. Her separation from Richard Lavender in 2024 followed a four-year marriage, though she said the IVF experience was not the reason the marriage ended.
The disclosure is a first-person account from a public figure broadcast on her own interview series, covering a 50-year-old's fertility history and a marriage that lasted four years. The number of IVF cycles, miscarriages, and the specific timeline of treatment were not detailed.
The players
Samantha Armytage
Australian television broadcaster and presenter who hosts the interview series Act Two.
Dr Devora Lieberman
Former president of Family Planning NSW who joined Armytage in the discussion about fertility treatment.
The details
In the episode, Armytage spoke with Dr Devora Lieberman, former president of Family Planning NSW, about her IVF journey and the decision to freeze her eggs in her 30s. She said she was ready to share the story while living what she described as a full, busy and happy life.
Timeline
31 December 2020: Armytage and Richard Lavender married at his property in the Southern Highlands, NSW.
2024: Armytage's dog Banjo, a Labrador, died.
2024: Armytage and Lavender separated after four years of marriage.
3 November 2026: Armytage revealed her IVF experience in an Act Two episode.
Relationship Landscape
Public accounts of IVF and miscarriage from prominent Australians have helped normalise conversations about fertility that were once largely private. Armytage's account adds to this trend by linking personal reproductive experience with the end of a marriage.
Readers facing fertility challenges or separation can find the disclosure a reminder that IVF struggles and marriage breakdown are common and not always linked. The account may encourage others to discuss treatment openly with partners and support networks.
The takeaway
Fertility struggles and relationship breakdowns often overlap but do not always share a cause. Speaking openly, as Armytage has, can help others feel less alone in navigating similar experiences.
Further reading
Explore more on divorce and how separations are navigated in Australia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nine.
