There is a slightly disturbing report that an in vitro fertilisation technique, called intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection or ICSI (where the egg is injected with the father's sperm before being implanted), results in boy children with the fertility problems of their fathers (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/oct/06/boys-conceived-through-ivf-technique-have-lower-than-average-fertility). It seems that such boys (at least in the first generation) have reduced sperm quality and quantity compared to 'normal' boys. One of the factors that might be involved in quality issues is sperm capacitation (maturation of the sperm and its accompanying fluids, enabling the gamete to penetrate the membranes around the egg in the process of fertilisation). Some authorities have suggested that ICSI is only putting off the problem to the next generation.
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