CHRISTIAN MEN -- Could you provide a sperm sample for "fertility testing" if it meant you had to masturbate?

Question

Just imagine some hypothetical situation. You've been married, you're trying to conceive, it's not working, you want to know if your sperm count is high or low or nonexistent, etc...

Would you masturbate in order to provide the necessary sperm sample?

I genuinely want to know. This isn't a joke. This isn't to make fun of you. I want to know if it would violate your sense of sexual morality if it were only done for the sake of testing.

Is the question to embarassing? Nobody is answering...

Or rather, "embarrassing" with two "r's". Darn typos.

Oh, and "too" instead of "to". I'm really off my game tonight!

Answer 1

Yes. It's never been an issue...have three kids the old fashioned way. Really it's more of Catholic thing with the whole semen/masturbation thing.

The vatican refers to masturbation as Onanism...which is very silly, if you read about what Onan was really guilty of. It is also why they don't allow condoms or birth control (according to Catholicism, NO sperm should be wasted. Decide for yourself..was Onan's great sin wasting semen or was it a lot more malicious than just that??

(Gen 38:8) And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
(Gen 38:9) And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

Onan's brother had died and the tradition was if your brother died (not having any children) you would (if a single male) marry his wife and name the firstborn (if male) with your brother's name...since you both have same last name, the boy would have your brothers entire name..giving honor to your brother and a little consolation to the wife.....Onan however was evil and deprived his dead brother and his wife of this by "pulling out"

I've found nowhere in scripture where masturbating is condemned or condoned. It is obviously wrong with porn or thinking about any other woman than your wife...and even if allowed should only be done when it is NEEDED to stop from chasing or lusting after other women.

Answer 2

Sperm Sample

Answer 3

Is masturbation necessary? One war widow conceived using the sperm from her husband, who had been dead for years. They exhumed his body. Chances are he could not feel a thing, so I'm assuming they used a needle.

Since most men object to being dead, I don't think that many men would mind doing the nasty, Christian or not -- it's for a good cause that will outlive them, while masturbation only takes a couple minutes. Besides, is it possible that his wife could be around when he did it? I can't fathom an objection.

Answer 4

SDW has given the best answer. It's not the act that makes the sin, it's what is in your heart when you do it.


To use a female example, taking my clothes off in front of a man who is not my husband....normally that would be considered the sin of adultery. If I'm doing to get a medical exam, however, then it's not.
It's really common sense and not legalism that dictates Christian thought.

Answer 5

I don't think masturbation is wrong although it could be depending on what is on a persons mind.
If someone never masturbated before, they might be uncomfortable with the idea of trying to, but if that is the case it would not be because they are so convinced that it is a sin.
In your hypothetical, a man could simply have sex with his wife while using a condom and save the sperm. I would bet you that using a condom, if he never had before would make him uncomfortable too.

Answer 6

Hi ZER0 C00L,

I went through this semen analysis issue some month ago, and it was very difficult for me to find on Internet a reliable information. This is why I am searching the threads about this topic to help people in the same situation.

I am catholic and I discussed the official roman church teaching about this with a priest specialist of this technical question.
It is not obvious, because the 1st priest I talked to was not sure about the anwser, so he asked his collegue who was skilled studied this question.
=> Masturbation is not allowed for ANY medical purpose ! Sorry, I suspected something like this...

Anyway, after many searches I found a discussion about electroejaculation (see on wikipedia).
This procedure can be done in most IVF centers with anaesthesia and electric pulses.
I had it two months ago, and when I woke up I had my semen analysis report without any side effect... or moral dilemna !
Yes I had to travel and to pay about 2k$ but it was worth it !

Hope this helps !

Answer 7

If their way of thinking wasn't too rigid as it is with many "fundies" then hopefully they would. If you really do want a kid then you'll try anything.

And on a general note, I don't believe for a moment that "Christian men" never masturbate!!

Answer 8

Actually, I would think that since the end result of the deed is conception, this wouldn't violate the "spilling it on the ground" prohibition the taboo about masterbation is based on.

EDIT: or, i should say, the intended end result.

Answer 9

I'm an atheist so I won't answer.
I am reminded of Dorothy Parker who named her canary (some suggest it was a Parrot or even a Parakeet) Onan because he spilled his seed upon the floor.

Answer 10

Couldn't I just do the real thing with my wife with the little cup next to the bed, and pull out at the last second?

Seriously, masturbation is a 'sin' because it is one of the physical manifestations of 'lust'. When one masturbates, they think about sex, usually in visions. When these visions are of people other than ones spouse we are 'committing adultery in our minds' (Matt 5:27-28). Following that thought, it would not be a sin for one to masturbate IF they thought about only their spouse while they did it.

My spouse is a little hottie, so no trouble there!

EDIT:
And if CTHULHU thinks that taking care of your own business is the greatest feeling in the world, then someone needs to get out more!