Skip to content
Close
SEARCH
en
it
en
it

Parole Fertili
(Fertile Words)

Parole fertili 2024

Parole Fertili (Fertile Words) is a digital storytelling and sharing project for people with fertility problems.

Established in association with the Center for Digital Health Humanities​ in 2016, Parole Fertili (Fertile Words) is a digital storytelling and sharing project for people with fertility problems. The website parolefertili.it was launched in the same year to give women and men the chance to tell raw, unfiltered stories about their personal experiences. They can do so anonymously if they prefer. 

The storytelling space provided by Parole Fertili makes people feel less isolated and gives them the opportunity to reveal their choices, doubts, problems and expectations to fellow travellers on the same journey. 
For IBSA Foundation, Parole Fertili (Fertile Words) has become a powerful tool for exploring how aspects of culture and health can play a crucial part in care.

2024 saw the publication of social anthropological analysis of the stories collected at parolefertili.it. It was used to envisage new scenarios fusing individual wishes and general perspectives.
In 2025, the foundations were laid for the future development of the project, which will see:

  • A survey being conducted – in a society whose population growth is always negative – into new forms of parenthood and the desire for children.
  • The production of a documentary film about how motherhood and fatherhood have become part of tough, ambivalent negotiations between individuals and the general public.

2016

The project and website are born
timeline-01

In May, launch of the digital story sharing community with a dedicated personal space to share your own story, even anonymously; a constantly updated news section; a monthly newsletter; Facebook and X accounts.

2018

Book and miniseries
timeline-02

In December, Parole Fertili will be published as a book by Mondadori Electa: ‘Parole Fertili. Viaggio alla ricerca di un figlio’ (Parole Fertili. Journey in search of a child).

Also in December, the stories of Parole Fertili will become a video miniseries that tells the point of view of a woman, a couple and a doctor.

2019

Theatre
timeline-0 4

December, the community's stories become a play: ‘Quasi genitori’ (Almost Parents) by MTM Manifatture Teatrali Milanesi.

2021

Integrated drama therapy
timeline-05

The community is involved in a study of integrated digital drama therapy: ‘In the land of storytelling masks’. The pilot project – which is completely free of charge – is aimed at 30 women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment and aims to enhance positive resources.

2022

Publication in Frontiers in Psychology
timeline-02

Pubblicazione su Frontiers in Psychology: Terapia drammatica digitale integrata: uno studio di fattibilità su donne sottoposte a tecniche di riproduzione assistita.

parole fertili foglie

2024

Social anthropological analysis of the stories 
timeline-01

In December, social anthropological analysis was published of the 553 stories collected at parolefertili.it, which highlight what facing infertility is like. 

Download the analysis

2025

Studio “CHARLS”
timeline-02

IBSA Foundation is taking part in a study conducted by the University of Zurich about opinions, experiences and wishes regarding reproductive medicine, the desire to have children and family images.

2025

Documentary film
timeline-03

Working in collaboration with CISA Film Academy - Locarno, a short film will be made about parenthood and how it has changed over the years, using archive footage to portray the relationships that people have with it.

parole fertili foglie
Parole-Fertili-condivisione-storie
logo-parole fertili

An increasingly international project

The Parole Fertili project continues to evolve thanks to its collaboration with the IBSA Foundation and a new website for sharing stories.

Discover the website