Artificial insemination with donor (AID) forces the gynaecologist to face the problem of filiation with his patients. Here, the authors point out the pathogenic effect, both on the parents and the child, which may result from rigidly kept secret about 'AID filiation', and they discuss some conditions which could help to avoid this pathogenic effect, possibly allowing a non-traumatic revelation of his/her filiation to the child, in the future. © 1990 Oxford University Press.