Male fertility testing - methodology and morality

[sydney28]

Help me understand why the Church would oppose this…

A couple has been unable to conceive despite several years of trying, never using contraceptives and always being open to life from the beginning of their marriage. They begin fertility testing and the woman’s tests all come back normal, so now it is recommended that the man’s sperm is tested.

We all know that masturbation is against church teaching, and that the man is only allowed to release his sperm into his wife so as to always be open to creating new life.

So, if the couple collects a sperm sample in the privacy of their home during a mutually intimate moment (without actually having intercourse), during an infertile time of the month for the woman (when she has just started her cycle, for example), how can this be considered sinful? The couple is OBVIOUSLY open to life, have been from the beginning, and the intent of this one occasion is most definitely not to just have sexual pleasure for selfish reasons, nor could they have gotten pregnant had they had intercourse. The couple also has no intention of having any fertility treatments that are against Church teachings (IVF, etc)

 

[LittleOne1]

It is wrong because the couple intends not to partake in the unitive aspect of the act, but merely cause climax apart from openess to life. The demand of openess to life is that the act objectively be open to life (that what the couple does could lead to a new life-ie male climax in the right spot) even if subjectively-regardless of personal circumstances (infertility, menopause, wrong time in the cycle) it may not happen.

The other problem is that a woman in theory could concieve during that time actually. There is a morally acceptable way that many Catholic doctors do to collect a sample:
naprotechnology.com/maleinfertility.htm

 

[mrsmhl]

Hi, I read a lot here and one of the threads suggested a condom that has holes in it b/c it doesn’t restrict the couple from being open but allows some “stuff” so you can take it to the test center…hope that helps…

 

[1ke]

Help me understand why the Church would oppose this…

We all know that masturbation is against church teaching, and that the man is only allowed to release his sperm into his wife so as to always be open to creating new life.

So, if the couple collects a sperm sample in the privacy of their home during a mutually intimate moment (without actually having intercourse), )

You answered your own question. You already stated masterbation is against church teaching in your first paragraph. What you describe in your second paragraph-- sexual activity that results in a male climax outside intercourse-- is masterbation. Period.

during an infertile time of the month for the woman (when she has just started her cycle, for example), how can this be considered sinful?)

It’s masterbation. Masterbation is always gravely disordered. When in the woman’s cycle this occurs is not relevant at all.

The couple is OBVIOUSLY open to life, have been from the beginning,

It is not a matter of the couple being “open to life” it is a matter of EACH marital act being BOTH unitive and procreative: a completed act of intercourse. That is the only proper way to use the sexual faculties.

and the intent of this one occasion is most definitely not to just have sexual pleasure for selfish reasons, nor could they have gotten pregnant had they had intercourse.

Again, that is not relevant.

The couple also has no intention of having any fertility treatments that are against Church teachings (IVF, etc)

There are several morally acceptable means of male fertility testing. The man may collect pre-ejaculate on a microscope slide prior to completing intercourse. The man may collect sperm in a perforated condom during a completed act of intercourse.

The couple may not use masterbatory methods.

 

[Seatuck]

There are two morally accepted ways for sperm collection of a married man. That is until science comes up with another.

1. use of a perforated condom
2. post coital collected from the wife

That’s it at this time.

 

[Paul2274]

This is from “Ask an Apologist”

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=53530&highlight=condom

Paul

 

[Seatuck]

Help me understand why the Church would oppose this…

A couple has been unable to conceive despite several years of trying, never using contraceptives and always being open to life from the beginning of their marriage. They begin fertility testing and the woman’s tests all come back normal, so now it is recommended that the man’s sperm is tested.

We all know that masturbation is against church teaching, and that the man is only allowed to release his sperm into his wife so as to always be open to creating new life.

So, if the couple collects a sperm sample in the privacy of their home during a mutually intimate moment (without actually having intercourse), during an infertile time of the month for the woman (when she has just started her cycle, for example), how can this be considered sinful? The couple is OBVIOUSLY open to life, have been from the beginning, and the intent of this one occasion is most definitely not to just have sexual pleasure for selfish reasons, nor could they have gotten pregnant had they had intercourse. The couple also has no intention of having any fertility treatments that are against Church teachings (IVF, etc)

It doesn’t really matter whether it is a fertile or infertile time. Each marital act needs to be “open to life”. Not the general disposition of the couple. This is why the perforated condom is allowed by most moral theologians.
It is true that some moralists do not allow it because condomistic sex is non unifying as well as non procreative.They do not allow it because of the lack of forming the one flesh union.

 

[drafdog]

It’s a medical diagnostic test. It isn’t “having sex.” The teaching of the Church doesn’t forbid medical testing.

Matthew