[Questions about the future of the child]

Among all the new artificial reproductive techniques the intracytoplasmic sperm injection, ICSI, raises the most questions. Two kinds of potential hazards have to be discuted: 1/ the risks depending on the indications; a lot of male sterilities are of genetic cause, chromosomal abnormalities, cystic fibrosis, ciliary dyskinesia. In such cases the transmissibility is not limited to a risk of sterility. The infertility is part of a somatic syndrome. 2/ the technical risks; invasive procedure, intraoocyte drug injection, eventually use of immature gamete (spermatid). The first kind of potential hazards are predictable in matter of nature, much less in matter of incidence. The second kind of risk are yet unpredictable. The obligatory risk assessment of this new technique needs a long-term surveillance plan.