Assisted Reproduction: The Importance of Psychological Support

According to the latest estimates, about 15% of Italian couples are in a pathological state of infertility, meaning they are unable to conceive within 12-24 months.

“Couples seeking ART bring with them a strong hope for parenthood, but also a significant amount of intense emotions to manage: pain, fear, anger, anxiety, feelings of helplessness, fragility, a sense of incompleteness, feeling wrong, and shame. In most cases, couples choose not to discuss this with their families, let alone a professional,” continues Dr. Bernuzzi.

Unfortunately, the success rate of ART procedures is only around 30%. Consequently, many couples often become discouraged, buckle under the weight of difficulty, pain, and resignation, and decide to abandon their attempts.

Law 40 of 2004 provides the right to psychological support during the ART process to assist couples in facing the numerous challenges this journey entails. The Istituto Superiore di Sanità, in particular, distinguishes this support into three different types:

• Decision-making Support
• Emotional Support
• Therapeutic Support

Let’s take a look at what these entail.

Decision-making Support

“Decision-making support aims to help couples understand the implications of choosing ART. Psychological counseling assists couples in accepting their infertility and helps them understand the procedure proposed by the gynecologist, within the context of those deemed appropriate for their specific situation,” explains the expert.

Emotional Support

Emotional support is also greatly beneficial during difficult moments related to issues arising from treatments or the failure of a cycle.

“The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) has found that the psychological consequences of infertility diagnosis persist over time, and that couples struggle significantly with the desire for parenthood. The difficulty in coping with the uncertainty of ART procedures often leads to the abandonment of the parental project.

It is estimated that about 20% of individuals undergoing ART procedures develop psychological distress that warrants specific assistance,” emphasizes Dr. Bernuzzi.

“The Guidelines of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology indicate that appropriate psychological intervention can:

• Reduce stress
• Improve quality of life and well-being
• Enhance psychological readiness for treatment

Improving psychological readiness for ART influences the outcomes of the procedures: it is estimated to increase success rates by about 15%,” continues Dr. Bernuzzi.

Often, women awaiting assisted reproduction tend to avoid meeting pregnant women or, more generally, avoid situations that remind them of motherhood. Such avoidance is associated with higher stress levels and poorer couple relationships. In contrast, having an objective view of situations with adequate exposure to motherhood-related scenarios helps reduce stress levels.

Women with a positive mental attitude and those who have other life goals, in addition to the goal of becoming mothers, show lower stress levels compared to those who see motherhood as their only purpose in life. The support of a psychologist specializing in these situations and processes is essential to mitigate the discomfort that this life experience entails,” concludes Dr. Bernuzzi.