IBSA presents Expecting Minds, a new international initiative developed as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting emotional wellbeing throughout the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) journey.
The project was created with the aim of encouraging dialogue, support and greater awareness around the challenges that millions of people face on their path towards parenthood, providing supportive tools through a holistic approach to fertility.
The initiative is backed by scientific evidence highlighting the profound connection between psychological health and fertility outcomes. Indeed, less stress has been linked to more hope in the ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) journey, and meta-regression analysis has indicated that larger reductions in anxiety are associated with greater improvement in pregnancy rates1. Conversely, reviews of the literature have generally reached the conclusion that psychosocial factors – such as depressive symptoms, anxiety, distress, and certain coping strategies – are linked to reduced chances of pregnancy.1
In this context, IBSA is launching Expecting Minds, a programme designed to provide emotional support for couples undergoing fertility journeys. This initiative will start as a pilot project in Spain and Poland. Structured around six key thematic areas – including managing uncertainty, strengthening couple communication, building resilience, and navigating waiting periods – the programme combines expert-led sessions, practical exercises, and opportunities for reflection and discussion.
Participants will also have access to a dedicated website featuring innovative edutainment tools designed to support and empower patients throughout their fertility journey. To further enhance engagement, patients and healthcare professionals will benefit from a comprehensive communication kit, developed to foster dialogue, raise awareness, and fully involve patients throughout every stage of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) pathway.
For IBSA, fertility should be approached not only through scientific and medical advances, but also by considering the emotional and psychological dimensions that accompany these experiences.
With Expecting Minds, IBSA is adding a new chapter to the journey that the company and IBSA Foundation have been pursuing for years to promote greater awareness of issues relating to fertility and parenthood, through a person-centred, empathetic and informed approach. Among the most representative initiatives in this programme is Parole Fertili (Fertile Words), IBSA Foundation’s project dedicated to the themes of fertility, infertility and parenthood, developed through surveys and scientific studies, cultural initiatives, public meetings and outreach activities. Together, these projects demonstrate IBSA’s commitment to promoting a culture of fertility that is increasingly attuned to people’s needs and the challenges of the modern world.
1Frederiksen, Y., Farver-Vestergaard, I., Skovgård, N. G., Ingerslev, H. J., & Zachariae, R. (2015). Efficacy of psychosocial interventions for psychological and pregnancy outcomes in infertile women and men: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 5(1), e006592._https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006592
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