Sperm Collection for Fertility Testing

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arthur78

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I’m having trouble understanding the Church’s position on semen collection.

I understand why contraception is bad as doesn’t allow for God to give you the gift of a baby. I understand why masturbation in general is wrong because you are pleasuring yourself instead of fostering relations with your wife.

However, what is the problem with masturbating for semen collection for fertility testing? They say you are supposed to have sex in a perforated condom and then go get it tested.


  1. *]Wouldn’t the perforations hurt the test? (You get to collection only a portion of what is emitted)
    *]So the perforation are going to get her pregnant at the time when nfp would say you have a 0.001% chance of getting pregnant, when the last 100 times at more optimal times have not ?
    *]I’m not getting any pleasure from it. The relations with my wife will not be hurt.

    So what’s the problem with the prescribed method? It’s doesn’t seem feasible. So I have to sex, collect it, race into the city through traffic to the facility, park in the garage, get into the office, wait for the receptionist, fill out forms, get the sample to the attendant, have the attendant test it… all within one hour.

    And the Church classifies it as a mortal sin. Eternal separation from God? The same level of sin as murder, denying God, etc. Are they serious?
 
arthur78 said:

  1. *]Wouldn’t the perforations hurt the test? (You get to collection only a portion of what is emitted)

    No this does not hurt the test in any way. They only actually test a sample from your sample

    *]So the perforation are going to get her pregnant at the time when nfp would say you have a 0.001% chance of getting pregnant, when the last 100 times at more optimal times have not ?

    Most likely no, but it is in no way preventing God for working a miracle through your joined fertility however remote the chance.

    *]I’m not getting any pleasure from it. The relations with my wife will not be hurt.

    Reguardless of if you are actually enjoying the process there is some level of self pleasure involved. And while this one instance may not affect your relations with your wife, it may open you up to future temptations toward masterbation.

    So what’s the problem with the prescribed method? It’s doesn’t seem feasible. So I have to sex, collect it, race into the city through traffic to the facility, park in the garage, get into the office, wait for the receptionist, fill out forms, get the sample to the attendant, have the attendant test it… all within one hour.

    What is so difficult about taking the paperwork home with you after your appointment so you’d already have it filled out, calling ahead after you have your sample, talking with your doctor about delivering the sample during off peak times like midmorning, going with your spouse so one of you can just drop off the paperwork and the sample because they would be expecting it.

    It seems as if you are wanting an exception to the reality that masterbation is sinful for convenience

    QUOTE]
Click to expand...
 
arthur78 said:
I’m having trouble understanding the Church’s position on semen collection.

I understand why contraception is bad as doesn’t allow for God to give you the gift of a baby. I understand why masturbation in general is wrong because you are pleasuring yourself instead of fostering relations with your wife.

However, what is the problem with masturbating for semen collection for fertility testing? They say you are supposed to have sex in a perforated condom and then go get it tested.


  1. *]Wouldn’t the perforations hurt the test? (You get to collection only a portion of what is emitted)
    *]So the perforation are going to get her pregnant at the time when nfp would say you have a 0.001% chance of getting pregnant, when the last 100 times at more optimal times have not ?
    *]I’m not getting any pleasure from it. The relations with my wife will not be hurt.

    So what’s the problem with the prescribed method? It’s doesn’t seem feasible. So I have to sex, collect it, race into the city through traffic to the facility, park in the garage, get into the office, wait for the receptionist, fill out forms, get the sample to the attendant, have the attendant test it… all within one hour.

    And the Church classifies it as a mortal sin. Eternal separation from God? The same level of sin as murder, denying God, etc. Are they serious?
Click to expand...

  1. Fill out the paperwork, etc BEFORE you have sex? Have everything ready and then zip over there when you have your sample?
 
I don’t think semen collection is in accordance with the Church’s teaching as you have to either masturbate in the clinic or use a condom when having sex. Some semen analysis techniques are very ethically questionable including the sperm penetration assay used in some IVF clinics here and more common in the US as far as I know. This involves using sperm to penetrate hamster eggs to test fertility.
Here’s a website with information:
webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/sperm-penetration-tests
 
The end can never justify the means. No matter how good the result will be, you can never do something morally wrong to get there. Masturbation is morally wrong.

Has your doctor said that they will not be able to use the sample using the sex with a perforated condom method? If your doctor is not worried about the sample then I see no reason for you to be.

This clinic obviously has rooms for men to masturbate in to get the samples, why not bring your wife to the clinic and make use of those rooms instead of driving across town? Then the convenience level is the same as masturbation, and who knows, intercourse in a different place might spice up the love life too 😉
 
Fertility testing is one of the more ethically questionable areas of science. It only takes one sperm to penetrate one egg, however fertility experts say that a man needs millions of sperm in each ejaculate as far as I know. I consider them to be quack doctors. Mary got pregnant without any sperm at all and conceived by the Holy Spirit so everything is possible for God.
 
budgie2 said:
I don’t think semen collection is in accordance with the Church’s teaching as you have to either masturbate in the clinic or use a condom when having sex. Some semen analysis techniques are very ethically questionable including the sperm penetration assay used in some IVF clinics here and more common in the US as far as I know. This involves using sperm to penetrate hamster eggs to test fertility.
Here’s a website with information:
webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/sperm-penetration-tests
Click to expand...
The OP is describing the method that is in accordance with church teaching. Using a perforated condom during a conjugal act.
 
I had trouble conceiving when I was first married. I got pregnant with my son after four years although I know some couples wait longer and are over 5 or 10 years without a baby. I wouldn’t rush for fertility treatment. I believe my child was a gift of prayer as I had a friend who was a priest in Africa who prayed for me and I also had Carmelite nuns praying for me aswell as family. You can see a child as a gift of science, or as a gift from God. I believe God is in control of conception and the start of life. I’ve got a friend who had children using fertility drugs, but would you want to have a baby by taking a drug, or have a baby as a gift of prayer? If you choose to rely on prayer, you could ask for a mass to be said for your intentions and give a donation, write to a monastery or ask the local prayer group to pray for you. Why not set up a prayer group for couples suffering from fertility problems and pray for each other? Nobody can be told but it’s nicer to wait.
 
Rather than visiting the local public health service, a more pro-life route is to take NFP classes as NFP can be used to both prevent and achieve pregnancy and educates you about your fertility. I didn’t know this and thought NFP was only for pregnancy prevention. Home sperm count tests are more ethical than tests in clinics . The Creighton Model Fertility Care programme incorporates some aspects of NFP and is also promoted by a major pro-life organisation in Britain called Life although I know it’s come from the US.
 
There is nothing wrong with a catholic couple seeking some medical assistance with infertility issues. It’s best to use a NFP friendly doctor who will observe the Catholic teaching on testing and other procedures. In the US we have NaPro Technology. The main source is the Paul VI Institute. The number of doctors utilizing this is growing and spreading to other parts of the country.

popepaulvi.com/
 
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