[Catamnestic study of 96 couples with heterologous insemination]

96 couples who had made an artificial insemination with donor sperm within 1968 and were interviewed in 1984, regardless whether the treatment was successful or not. The aim of the inquiry was to see how the partnership and the children developed as well as the actual feeling of the decision made. Three groups resulted which can be compared with each other: a) couples with successful treatment and children conceived by artificial insemination, b) couples with unsuccessful treatment by artificial insemination and consequent adoption of a child, c) couples with unsuccessful treatment by artificial insemination and without adoption of a child. 63 (65.6%) had at least one conception. 68 children were born to 55 couples. In the case of 9 men a normal conception took place after completion of the treatment. About 10% became divorced in the groups a and b and about 35% in group c. No couple regretted the treatment. The fathers of the divorced couples experienced themselves as fathers. The development of the children conceived in artificial insemination with donor sperm has not been showing any signs of unusual disturbances.