A chacun son père

Résumé

L’Insémination Artificielle avec Donneur (IAD) est pratiquée, en France, depuis 35 ans, comme méthode palliative de la stérilité masculine. Elle a permis la naissance d’environ quarante-cinq mille enfants. L’évaluation de cette population de parents et de leurs enfants est difficile à réaliser. Elle est néanmoins possible.

Il ressort d’une étude approfondie que les enfants, devenus adultes, sont globalement satisfaits et que l’anonymat du don de sperme est la meilleure façon d’établir une paternité et de constituer une famille.

Abstract

Donor insemination (DI) has been performed for 35 years in France as a palliative method for male sterility. About forty five thousand children have been born after DI. Evaluation of this population of parents and children is difficult for ethical and administrative reasons.

However, a qualitative study can be performed under particular conditions. DI children, now adults, were able to express their personal experience. Gamete donation is anonymous in France. This measure is contested by some, but approved by others. The donor often has his own family and cannot be expected to be recognized by children that he did not raise and only after the age of 18. Parents of DI children prefer to remain the only parent (one father and one mother) for their children. Children prefer the donor to remain imaginary without denying his role in conception.

CECOS centres are not overwhelmed by untimely demands from children looking for the donor. The actual system seems to be the best for everyone.