Assisted reproduction: here’s why Genoa’s mayor, Salis, has broken the cultural silence by coming out
Even today, many couples who undergo assisted reproductive technology (ART) prefer not to talk about their experience. Behind this silence may lie a sense of modesty and a fear of judgement, but also the difficulty of sharing what is often a complex journey
Medically assisted reproduction (MAR) should not be a taboo, but an option that we should learn about, protect and make accessible. The account by the Mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis , of her own experience of in vitro fertilisation, offers an opportunity to move beyond the personal level and initiate a collective reflection on our country’s culture, reproductive health and demographic future, whilst overcoming stereotypes and prejudices.
Even today, many couples who undergo assisted reproductive technology (ART) prefer not to talk about their experience. Behind this silence may lie a sense of modesty and a fear of judgement, but also the difficulty of sharing a journey that is often complex on a physical, psychological and emotional level. This is why we need to move beyond the idea that conceiving a child with the help of medical intervention is something to be concealed or justified. Parenthood does not need to be legitimised by the way it began. Thus, when a public figure, as in Salis’s case, chooses to share her experience, she can help shed light on a reality that affects thousands of Italian families. Not because everyone should feel obliged to talk about their personal story, but because no one should feel compelled to hide it.
To tackle the issue of the falling birth rate seriously, we must also address the needs of women and couples who would like to have a child but face biological, financial and organisational difficulties in realising their plans. Our country is undergoing a profound demographic crisis. According to figures released by Istat, around 355,000 children were born in Italia in 2025, and the average number of children per woman has fallen to 1.14. To effectively counter this trend, we need to promote a new culture of fertility, strengthen information and prevention, improve access to diagnostic and therapeutic pathways, and reduce regional and economic inequalities. These measures must be accompanied by adequate psychological support for people undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments.
Psychological wellbeing, in fact, cannot be regarded as a luxury to be borne by the patient. For this reason, we are making an urgent appeal to the authorities to ensure that psychological support is recognised and guaranteed as a structural component of assisted reproduction programmes, including through its proper integration into the Essential Levels of Care (LEA). The aim is to ensure continuous support, alongside medical care, to safeguard the psychological wellbeing of both women and men throughout all stages of the process.
When considering assisted reproduction, effectively managing the emotional burden borne by couples hoping to become parents is crucial. The journey through assisted reproduction and the issues associated with infertility can turn into hidden suffering, experienced in complete solitude.
