On April 17, 2024, a press conference was held in Kraków on the topic of the project "Naturally, In Vitro".

This is part of the nationwide social and educational campaign “In Vitro—A Natural Step in Trying to Conceive”, held under the honorary patronage of Sejm Marshal Monika Wielichowska. The conference took place at the Auditorium Maximum.

During the conference, the co-organizers of the "Naturally In Vitro" campaign spoke:

  • OliEdu, President of the Civic Education Foundation - Ewa Daros
  • representative of the Dr. Max Association - Kinga Kołodziej
  • medical representatives of KrakOvi (Małopolska Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Treatment) - Dr. Jakub Wyroba, M.D., Ph.D.

The conference was also attended by distinguished guests who support initiatives in the field of in vitro fertilization:

  • Speaker of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland - Monika Wielichowska
  • Member of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland - Aleksander Miszalski
  • Krakow City Council Member - Tomasz Daros

Also present at the meeting were medical students, doctoral candidates, lecturers, and physicians, who listened attentively to the speakers.

The Speaker of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland—Monika Wielichowska—emphasized that:

parenthood is not always within easy reach, and the path to the longed-for motherhood is often long and costly. The Speaker noted that in vitro fertilization (IVF), which will be subsidized from the state budget starting June 1, offers hope and joy to many infertile couples. For this reason, she decided, together with organizations, foundations, and associations that work daily with infertile couples and recognize the urgent need to raise public awareness through education about infertility treatments—such as in vitro fertilization—to address these needs. The Speaker noted that while knowledge is fundamental, unfortunately, in recent years the topic of infertility has become taboo and was among the issues not discussed. This has led to a lack of proper education—as a result of which IVF, unfortunately, continues to raise many concerns and controversies from medical, ideological, and ethical perspectives. Hence the immense need for educational and social initiatives as part of the “Naturally, IVF” campaign.

Jakub Wyroba, M.D., Ph.D., from KrakOvi (Małopolska Institute for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility) explained that:

The goal of the #naturalnieżeinvitro educational program is to raise public awareness, dispel myths and stereotypes, provide reliable medical knowledge and information, promote the safety and effectiveness of the procedure, and increase the level of public support. According to Dr. Wyroba, thanks to a holistic approach to the topic, the public will have the opportunity to better understand the in vitro procedure, and those undergoing the procedure will be able to make more informed decisions regarding their treatment. The program, meanwhile, will provide access to expert knowledge, as it involves an interdisciplinary team—including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, dietitians, and psychologists—which allows for a comprehensive approach to the topic. Dr. Wyroba added that the “Naturally, IVF” was created by leading experts who work with patients on a daily basis, and he invited subject-matter partners to join the initiative; they enthusiastically and with great commitment expressed their willingness to collaborate.

Mariola Wantuch—head nurse at KrakOvi (Małopolska Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Treatment) and one of the project’s initiators—stated in a press release that:

The #naturalnieżeinvitro program aims to ensure widespread access to reliable and understandable information about in vitro fertilization for all segments of society, not just for those currently undergoing treatment. Educating the public about in vitro fertilization can help reduce the knowledge gap regarding this treatment method, which will enable people to make informed decisions regarding their reproductive health. By educating the public about in vitro fertilization, uncertainty and resistance toward this treatment method can be reduced, which may contribute to greater social acceptance of couples using this treatment option. The program also aims to improve the public’s psychosocial skills in coping with infertility issues, which may help improve the quality of life for those affected by these problems. She emphasized that many years had passed without government funding, many years during which IVF was not openly discussed. However, thanks to the introduction of reimbursement for in vitro procedures as of June 1 of this year, many couples will fulfill their dreams of parenthood, and thanks to the “Naturally, In Vitro” campaign, many people will be able to understand the entire procedure and thereby support patients undergoing this treatment.

Aleksander Miszalski, a member of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, emphasized in his speech

the need to combat the stigmatization surrounding in vitro fertilization, which has been particularly intense in recent years in the Sejm. He also expressed his willingness to support issues related to fertility and perinatal care and noted that all these points are also included in his campaign platform for Mayor of Kraków. The MP also thanked the organizers of the campaign for their commitment and for carrying out so many initiatives in the field of in vitro fertilization.

Kraków City Councilmember, Tomasz Daros recalled that

Krakow was one of the first cities in Poland to introduce local government support in recent years in the form of subsidies for in vitro procedures. Furthermore, the City Councilmember added that after doctors approached him, he was able to secure funding for another extremely important initiative in the field of in vitro fertilization: oncofertility. Support for oncofertility will also be introduced starting June 1 of this year, as announced by the Ministry of Health last week. Meanwhile, the funds secured by Councilman Tomasz Daros will be allocated to educational initiatives aimed at raising public awareness and providing information about oncofertility, so that people undergoing cancer treatment can start families after successfully completing their treatment.

Kinga Kołodziej, a representative of the Dr. Max Association, stated that

at the Association, her entire team is committed to providing the best possible professional care for infertile couples, with a focus on the safety of medication purchases, proper storage, and disposal. She emphasized that she is convinced that if a team of experts with the appropriate knowledge, experience, and—most importantly—the ability to work together is involved in the care of an infertile couple, this will undoubtedly improve the treatment process and patient comfort.

The entire meeting was moderated by Ewa Daros, President of the OliEdu Civic Education Foundation, Ewa Daros, who announced during the conference that

it is extremely important to destigmatize in vitro fertilization, a method that has already led to the birth of over 9 million children worldwide. She also emphasized the importance of all educational and training initiatives, as it is estimated that infertility affects 3 million people in Poland. The project is therefore aimed at the general public, with a particular focus on people trying to conceive through IVF, children conceived using this method, and the medical community. Ewa Daros also noted that over half a million Poles have signed the “Yes to IVF” petition, which demonstrates strong public support for this issue. The president of the OliEdu Civic Education Foundation also announced a medical and scientific conference related to the “Naturally, IVF” campaign, to be held in Building U next to the Sejm on May 14 at 12:00 p.m. in Warsaw.