Depression and Anxiety in Women Pursuing Fertility Treatment in Spain

Women suffering from fertility problems, as well as LGTBIQ+ individuals or individuals without a partner who would like to become parents, frequently ask for assisted reproduction treatments (ART). These medical procedures may facilitate the achievement of a desired pregnancy, but it is also known that emotional adverse reactions usually accompany them. This chapter describes ART in the Spanish healthcare system and discusses the main emotional symptoms and disorders experienced during ART. Psychological interventions developed for these populations and the issues not covered by current practices will be laid out. We highlight the lack of preventive interventions for women undergoing ART and the scarcity of rigorous research conducted in Spain. Additionally, some limitations of our current face-to-face healthcare system are evidenced, which suggests the need to develop more solutions. Related to this idea, we will show the usefulness of technology for providing psychological care during ART and the advantages of transdiagnostic interventions such as the Unified Protocol. We conclude by explaining how the Unified Protocol can be applied during ART and how internet-based programs could be integrated into ART care, considering the opinions of women undergoing ART and professionals.