In the month marking World Fertility Day, the 9th Conversa Improvável (Improbable talk), with the theme “Infertility: the invisible disease?” will take place on November 21, from 12 noon to 1 pm, at the Rómulo Science Center of the University of Coimbra, located in the Physics Department (Pole I). This talk will feature Dr. Ana Paula Sousa, senior clinical embryologist and researcher at CNC-UC/CiBB; Dr. Sara Ribeiro, psychologist and doctoral student in clinical and health psychology at the University of Coimbra, Dr. Tânia Batista, architect and co-founder of the company NRTB in Coimbra, and Professor Teresa Almeida Santos, specialist in gynecology and obstetrics, professor at the University of Coimbra's Faculty of Medicine, director of the department of gynaecology, obstetrics, reproduction and neonatalogy at CHUC and scientific coordinator of EUGIN Coimbra.
 
The talk will be moderated by Sandra Amaral, a researcher at CNC-UC/CiBB and will be illustrated live by comic artist Rui Tavares. The cultural moment will include an exhibition of drawings made by children in various reproductive health science communication activities and the presentation of the book “Essa (não) é uma pergunta fácil”, by researchers Sandra Amaral and Ana Vasconcelos.
 
Infertility is a disease that affects one in six people throughout their lives, and is estimated to affect around 300,000 couples in Portugal. It is recognized by the World Health Organization as a serious public health problem that affects both men and women. This disease has a major impact on the lives, health and well-being of affected couples, who often suffer from psychosocial and financial problems.
 
As it is a disease without symptoms, how can we anticipate its diagnosis and early intervention? What treatments are available and what is their success rate? What consequences does this infertility journey have for the couple? Should we invest more in promoting reproductive health literacy? In this conversation, we'll try to answer these and other questions.
 
The event is in Portuguese, open to the whole community and admission is free.
 
Conversas Improváveis is an initiative of the communication action group of the Metabolism, Aging and Disease (MAD) research line at the Center for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CiBB) at the University of Coimbra, and aims to foster science and health literacy with informal discussions, approaching topics from various perspectives, to promote awareness of various diseases, and encourage early and informed actions and decisions, ultimately contributing to a healthier society.
 
The Conversas Improváveis take place in various iconic locations at the University of Coimbra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, namely at the Rómulo - UC Science Center, the Science Museum, the Botanical Garden and the UC Exploratory, just to name a few.
 
The next Conversa Improvável, moderated by Dr. Raquel Alves and Dr. Salomé Pires, will take place on December 19 (the month that marks the International Day of Volunteers for Economic and Social Development), at 12 noon at a venue to be announced.
 
Coordinating this initiative are the communication action group from CiBB-UC's Metabolism, Ageing and Disease line: Ana Isabel Duarte, Anabela Marisa Azul, Ermelindo Leal, Ilda Ribeiro, Manuela Grazina, Raquel Alves, Salomé Pires, Sandra Amaral.