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Joan wrote: |
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Dear Sirs,
My husband had cancer on four separate occasions.
He has had extensive radiation and six months
of chemotherapy. During chemotherapy, the
doctors told us not to get pregnant, so we
did (NFP) Natural Family Planning. We did
not freeze any sperm because we did not want
to go against Church teachings.
Now we are trying to get pregnant and have
found out that there is no sperm in his semen
due to all of the chemotherapy. The doctors
would like to do a testes biopsy to see if
there is sperm in his testicles.
- Would it be against Church teachings to
pursue this?
Please help!
Sincerely,
Joan
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| { Would
doing a testes biopsy to see if he has sperm in his semen be against Church teaching? } |
John
replied:
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Hi, Joan —
First, for others reading this question
let me explain:
A biopsy is a medical
procedure that involves either cutting
into or using a needle to take a
sample of a particular organ so it
can undergo laboratory tests. For
instance, liver biopsies are very
common if liver cancer is suspected.
I believe that a biopsy of the testes,
to see if there is sperm in his testicles,
would not violate Church teaching
in that it is not a sex act which
is contraceptive by its nature, such
as masturbation. Also, this does
not involve the fertilization and
subsequent examination of an egg
as is done (IVF) In-vitro fertilization.
I see no problem.
John DiMascio
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Bob
replied:
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Joan —
A testes biopsy is not contradictory
to Church teaching.
Masturbation for the sake of achieving
a sperm sample is, but the surgical
methods are fine.
Peace,
Bob
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Eric
replied:
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Hi, Joan —
First, we commend you for so courageously
following the Church's teaching in
such a difficult situation. Undoubtedly,
this has not been an easy path for
you to follow.
Answering your question would require
knowing more details on how the biopsy
is conducted.
- If the biopsy involves surgically
collecting a tissue sample, I
can see no objection to this.
- If a semen sample has to be
produced, however, it would have
to be obtained in a legitimate
manner, i.e., not through masturbation.
One solution I've heard for legitimately
obtaining a semen sample is to have
conjugal relations using a condom
with a hole poked through the end,
which preserves the fertility of
the act while permitting a sample
to be collected.
I'm not 100% certain that the legitimacy
of this technique has been established,
so one should probably verify this
with an expert on the subject. (None
of which we are at AskACatholic.com.)
Eric Ewanco
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Edward
Furton, of the National
Catholic Bioethics Center replied:
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HI Mike,
My understanding of Church teaching
in this area is that John, Bob and Eric's
answers are correct.
Eric said:
One solution
I've heard for legitimately obtaining
a semen sample is to have conjugal
relations using a condom with a hole
poked through the end, which preserves
the fertility of the act while permitting
a sample to be collected.
The above comment is fine, though
there has been no definitive ruling
on this approach from the Magisterium.
You will find reputable theologians
who approve and who disapprove of
this method.
The Center itself has
theologians who disagree on this
issue. Given that no definitive teaching
is available, and the fact that reputable
opinion is divided,
the couple is free to follow the
light of a well-formed conscience.
Hence, they may proceed
as Eric has suggested.
Edward J. Furton
Director of Publications and Ethicist
The National Catholic Bioethics Center
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