'I spent so much money': Naomi Watts opens up about fertility struggles before welcoming her children

Naomi Watts has opened up about her struggle to conceive after going through menopause at the early age of 36.

Watts, 56, says having children became an "obsession" despite her fertility challenges.

"Because of my hormone levels, I wasn't a candidate for IVF, but I tried fertility drugs like Clomid and procedures like intrauterine insemination (IUI)," she wrote in her book Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause, out now.

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"I would have eaten my dog's toenails if someone told me it would help," she said of her desperation.

"I tracked my ovulation and checked my temperature on the regular," she continued.

"I even got scans to see the follicles and the eggs forming, and we'd have sex at the exact optimal moment for conception. None of it worked."

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She admits her relationship with Schreiber became strained as a result.

"I was peeing on sticks constantly, both to track my ovulation and to check for pregnancy if my period was even an hour late," she said.

"I was monitoring the pH of my vagina because I'd heard that sperm do better in an alkaline environment than an acidic one.

"I spent so much money, but I would have mortgaged my house to try to solve this problem."

Watts eventually fell pregnant and the couple welcomed two children with Schreiber – Sasha in 2007 and Kai in 2008.

Watts and Schreiber were together for 11 years. Watts is now married to actor Billy Crudup.

Watts' book was released on January 21.

The actress has promoted the release on social media, telling her followers the book is "the kind of book I wanted when I was 36 and told I was going into early menopause".

"It was a horrible, lonely, scary time, and I wished I'd had more information and more open conversations with my friends," she continued.

"I want you to feel less alone, and less scared, and actually find a way to thrive through this time," Watts added.

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