Michelle Obama reveals she had a miscarriage before turning to IVF to conceive daughters: 'I felt lost and alone'

She said not discussing how women's bodies work is the 'worst thing that we do as women'

Michelle Obama said she felt “broken” after suffering a miscarriage 20 years ago, before turning to IVF to conceive her and Barack’s two daughters.

The former first lady discussed her experience on Good Morning America with Robin Roberts, ahead of the release of her new memoir Becoming.

During the interview, Ms Obama, 54, revealed that she felt like she’d failed when she experienced the loss - but wanted to share her story to help other women.

“I felt lost and alone and I felt like I failed because I didn’t know how common miscarriages were - because we don’t talk about them,” she explained. “We sit in our own pain thinking that somehow we’re broken.

“That’s one of the reasons why I think it’s important to talk to young mothers about the fact that miscarriages happen,” she said.

Michelle and Barack eventually turned to IVF to conceive daughters Malia, 20, and Sasha, 17 - because the “biological clock is real” and “egg production is limited.”

And, according to Ms Obama, not openly discussing the common issues surrounding conception is the “worst thing that we do to each other as women.”

“I think it is the worst thing that we do to each other as women - not share the truth about our bodies and how they work and how they don’t work,” she told Roberts.

The former first lady revealed her struggles to conceive (ABC News)

Ms Obama, known for her advocacy work on behalf of women and girls around the world, also discussed her loving marriage with the former president, and the couple’s decision to attend marriage counselling during a tumultuous period.

Offering further advice for people who look up to the her and her husband, the mother-of-two told Roberts: “Marriage counselling for us was one of those ways where we learned how to talk out our differences” and that she wants young couples to know "Michelle and Barack Obama, who have a phenomenal marriage and who love each other,” work on their marriage and get help when they need it.

The couple used IVF to conceive their daughters (Getty)

The former first lady touched on her husband's successor as well, who she referred to as a "misogynist," and the "ugliness" of politics.

"I continue to be put off by the nastiness," she said.

Becoming will be released November 13.