Acupuncture is a technique from traditional Chinese medicine. It involves the manipulation and insertion of very fine needles into specific points on the body, which are located along meridians or energy channels.

Acupuncture has been used for centuries as a complementary approach to address a variety of health problems, including pain, emotional distress or stress. It is a very simple and safe practice to complement your care before, during or after pregnancy.

This practice can bring multiple benefits, such as:

• Improving ovarian function to produce better quality eggs
• Regulating the hormonal system to produce a larger number of follicles
• Increasing blood flow to the uterus and increasing the thickness of the uterine lining
• Helping prevent uterine contractions and reduce the chance of miscarriage
• Decreasing side effects of medication used in IVF
• Strengthening and regulating your immune system

The journey to motherhood is a beautiful but also complex process, in which a carousel of emotions can occur throughout the various stages that can be overwhelming. At Fertty we look after your mental and emotional health in the same way as your physical health.

That is why we provide a psychological support unit made up of specialists in therapy applied to assisted reproduction. We guarantee you an entirely safe, close and intimate space to help you to manage your emotions and where you can always turn to for support.

Counselling in the context of assisted reproduction offers several important benefits, both for you and for those who support you in the process:

• Reducing stress and anxiety that may occur before, during or after treatments
• Positive impact on physical wellbeing, which is beneficial for response to fertility treatment
• Emotional support: our therapists will provide a safe space for you to express your fears, frustrations and hopes, also helping you with decision making.
• Therapy can improve communication within the couple, helping them to face the challenges of treatment together.
  

Fertility coaching is a personalised accompaniment for women and couples in assisted reproduction treatments, addressing both physical and emotional health. Our coach offers continuous emotional support and assists you in a process of personal work to identify your own resources, strengthen your confidence and better manage the protocols and their emotional burden.

Through practical tools, you will work on what you can control, allowing you to face difficult moments with greater serenity and clarity, improving not only your experience on the road to motherhood, but also your general well-being in your day-to-day life, beyond the treatment.

Coaching sessions are personalised and will vary greatly depending on your situation and needs, but generally, the benefits of this service are:

• Implementing stress management techniques and strategies
• Identifying your own resources to manage the emotional burden and challenges of the process
• Developing confidence, positive thinking and resilience
• Self-awareness and inner empowerment, providing a sense of greater control over the situation
• Identifying lifestyle factors that may be affecting fertility and devising personalised strategies
• Helping in making difficult decisions related to the process
• Improving communication with the environment, to feel better supported and less alone in the process.

Motherhood and the journey to it is a life journey you have never been on before, which directly affects your emotional and sexual relationships.

In this exceptional situation, you may feel doubts, uncertainty or changes. Do not worry, it is normal. At Fertty we offer a safe place where you can talk about your sexuality, couple behaviours and interpersonal relationships in general. Our sexology specialist will help you (whether you come as a couple or alone) to manage this possible insecurity and solve any problem so that you can ensure a good sexual health during the process.

There are many benefits associated with sexology sessions, including the following:

• Helping couples to communicate better about their sexual desires and needs, and to reduce stress and anxiety related to fertility problems.
• Encouraging a positive attitude towards sexuality and promoting healthy sexual practices, maintaining a satisfying sex life during treatments.
• Identifying and treating sexual dysfunctions that may affect fertility, improving sexual function and increasing the chances of conception.
• Helping to cope with physical and hormonal changes during treatments, maintaining a positive body image and a strong emotional connection with oneself and one’s partner.

Diet is directly related to health, both physical and emotional, and in the case of fertility and pregnancy, it plays a fundamental role. Following a balanced diet such as the

Mediterranean diet helps both conception and the development of pregnancy and the baby’s growth. That is why at Fertty we offer sessions with our nutrition and dietetics specialist, who will be able to help you define a plan adapted to your physical characteristics and personal needs.

Here are some of the key points that a good nutritional pattern, applied to the fertility process, affects:

• Promoting healthy ovulation
• Increasing and improving the quality of spermatozoa
• Reducing oxidative stress
• Supporting hormonal balance and regulating the hormonal effects of IVF
• Reducing the risk of miscarriage
• Impacting directly the baby’s health. The mother’s nutritional status preconception, during pregnancy and during lactation are essential for the future health of the baby.