Katya Santos opens up on her IVF journey: 'It's very challenging'

Katya Santos has been trying to have a baby with her fiancé Paolo Pilarto through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

On Wednesday's episode of "Fast Talk With Boy Abunda," the former Viva Hot Babes member talked about the difficulties they are facing in their IVF journey.

"It's very challenging. Very very challenging, [very] emotional. Mahirap po," Katya said. 

According to her, she and Paolo had to set aside their wedding and their own careers to prioritize conceiving a baby.

Aside from the emotional challenge that Katya experienced on her journey, the cost of the IVF process is not a joke either.

"I think 'yung gastos po 'yong painful," she said, adding that it is "very draining physically, mentally, emotionally and financially."

Katya said that she tried other fertility rites such as offering an egg to St. Claire and Padre Pio, and regularly attending the Wednesday mass at the Christ the King Church.

She and Paolo also plan to go to Obando, Bulacan to participate in the Obando Fertility Rites. 

In a previous interview, Katya said that she and Paolo planned to have children first before getting married, undergoing IVF last year. 

"We started last year. Siyempre with my age I'm already 42, so we prioritized na mag-baby muna more than the wedding," she said. "So honestly, wala pa talaga, hindi pa talaga namin naiisip 'yung kasal kasi nga parang hindi lang namin napag-uusapan."

Paolo proposed to Katya this year while in Japan. They have been trying to conceive a baby since then.

"Matagal na kaming nagta-try mag-baby. Kaya lang, hindi lang talaga religiously trying, hindi kami nagpapa-check. Iniisip ko lang kasi before 40, parang, 'Wala naman akong problem!' kasi may baby naman na ako," Katya said.

Katya has a daughter named Tala with former husband Anton Delos Reyes.

—Jade Veronique Yap/MGP, GMA Integrated News