The sin of Masturbation

[Eye-beam]

I understand that the severity of a sin can be downgraded or even pardoned due to extraneous circumstances. I have a prostate issue and will experience extreme pain if I don’t ejaculate every 1-2 weeks. My wife is going through menopause and is frequently unable to engage in intercourse. This morning after 2 weeks of inactivity I began to experience pain and masturbated. I thought of my wife, it wasn’t for simple gratification and it didn’t deny the act of love making to my wife as she was gone to work and would have likely been unavailable in any case. Would this still be considered mortal sin?

 

[Vico]

…

Dominic M. Pedulla MD, FACC, CNFPMC, ABVM, ACPh Varicoseveins1@yahoo.com Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, OU Health Sciences Center Medical Director, The Oklahoma Vein and Endovascular Center President, The Edith Stein Foundation writes:

Some urologists, based as far as I can tell on only one very poor study whose abstract I reviewed (Int J Urol. 1999 Mar;6(3):130-4. Role of ejaculation in the treatment of chronic non-bacterial prostatitis.), seem to recommend self-stimulation in the absence of availability of physiologically normal intercourse. They do this probably because of the supposition that masturbatory ejaculation will empty and relieve the pressure in the chronically inflamed prostate gland, and thereby relieve symptoms. Even if there is a partial truth in this, is extremely likely that any symptomatic relief is only momentary or at best temporary, and the abnormal physiology we mentioned will likely once again induce more symptoms and more prostatic inflammation, in a pattern that resembles a vicious circle.

http://origin.ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage_print.asp?number=511730&language=en

 

[Saxum]

This is something you should discuss with your priest and your doctor. For what its worth, and in my opinion, I think your wife should help to relieve your issue. Sex is about procreation and also about bringing the spouses together. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind lending a helping hand.

Also, and this is something you’ll have to check out with your priest, I’m sure it’s a sin for any spouse to withhold sex without a really good reason. I think, in your case, your wife should step up and perform her wifely duty. I mean, it’s a medical requirement for you to have sex.

 

[LawyersGunsAndMoney]

My sense is probably not a sin, since your goal wasn’t sexual pleasure but relief from pain. That said, I would discuss with both a priest and a urologist. There might be some way to manage this chronic condition.

 

[Saxum]

There might be some way to manage this chronic condition.

God provided the way: regular sex with his wife. That is, if the wife is able to perform. In any event, I think the activity should be spousal. Something to bring them together.

 

[LawyersGunsAndMoney]

God provided the way: regular sex with his wife.

Just for the sake of argument, let’s imagine the OP was unmarried, or was away from his wife on an extended business trip or something.

But yes, I agree that sex with his wife is a better way to accomplish the same thing.

 

[Saxum]

Just for the sake of argument, let’s imagine the OP was unmarried, or was away from his wife on an extended business trip or something.

In this particular case, the man is married. This is relevant to the moral issue involved. I can’t deal in hypotheticals. It’s better to keep it real. He really should discuss this with his priest because there isn’t a clear cut answer.

As an aside, ‘lawyers guns and money’ is one of my favourite songs. I love Warren Zevon.

 

[CilladeRoma]

You cannot be serious?

 

[Saxum]

Why do you say that? Of course I’m serious. The man has needs. Sex between man and wife is sacred. And in this case it’s medically needed.

 

[Cecilia2017]

‘Able to Perform’!!! Good grief…she’s a human being not a circus animal! As a menopausal lady I don’t doubt she’ll have her own biological challenges. It must be difficult for them both.
This thread has certainly brought home to me why we’re not supposed to discuss medical issues…

 

[Saxum]

‘Able to Perform’!!! Good grief

The poor man needs his wife. He needs to ejaculate regularly and he may be sinning if he masturbates. The solution is intimacy with his wife. It’s not too much to ask. If she’s able to do so, she should help her man out.

 

[LawyersGunsAndMoney]

You cannot be serious?

Normally I roll my eyes at people who get super literal about the “marital debt” too, but I don’t think this sounds unreasonable really. He’s saying he needs to, er, flush the pipes at least once every few weeks. That doesn’t seem excessive, assuming the wife is medically able. If he told his wife he needed sex every twenty minutes, I’d agree that that’s not a reasonable expectation.

And I assume Saxum would agree that if she had some medical need for orgasm to relieve pain every few weeks, he should also step for her. Goes both ways.

 

[Saxum]

And I assume Saxum would agree that if she had some medical need for orgasm to relieve pain every few weeks, he should also step for her. Goes both ways.

I agree. Call me crazy, but I think sex is an essential part of a marriage. It’s important for intimacy. It’s not primarily about debts or obligations. It’s natural and should be enjoyable. And in this case, it’s medically necessary.

 

[Episcopalian]

“Step up and perform her wifely duty” sounds a bit chauvinist so you may want to consider editing.

If she’s going through menopause as the OP mentioned, there’s instances where if she had sex herself, then THAT would be painful for her.

I think if they are in that situation, it’s painful for him to not have sex and it’s painful for her to have sex. Masturbation is fine. Just my opinion though.

 

[LawyersGunsAndMoney]

“Step up and perform her wifely duty” sounds a bit chauvinist so you may want to consider editing.

Yeah, I mean, the language isn’t ideal. Like someone said, makes her sound like a trained seal or something. But I don’t think the idea is crazy. Again, assuming she’s medically able to have sex herself.