My husband has been told to have a semen analysis to find out why we can’t have children. The process involves collection of sperms by masturbation. Since this is for a health issue, is it still morally wrong?
Analyzing semen for the purpose of healing infertility is not wrong, but it is not necessary to engage in masturbation to obtain a test sample. Ask your doctor for a specially-made perforated condom, which you can use during marital relations and then turn in to the doctor for analysis. The perforated condom collects a sufficient sample for testing purposes, while allowing the rest to pass through, thus ensuring that the marital act is not rendered contraceptive. If your doctor has not heard of perforated condoms, I recommend consulting with the Pope Paul VI Institute, a Catholic apostolate that specializes in reproductive health.
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