SEX and INFERTILITY
by Louis A. Turk, B.A., M.Div., Ph.D.
“There shall not be male or female barren
among you” (Deut. 7:14).
This age of birth
control and abortions
is extremely painful to a small minority of couples
who fervently yearn to bear children, but for whatever reason are unable
to do so. Many of these couples would
gladly pay thousands of dollars to adopt a child, but sadly there are no
children to adopt due to the fact that most children who would in times
past have been put up for adoptions are now murdered
by abortion. This
article is written with the desire to help some of these barren couples
bear children at last. This article is also written to help all Christians
who want to have their marriage bed in submission to God know how to do
so.
Does God Guarantee Fertility?
Yes and no. The promises in the Bible concerning fertility are not
without stipulations. If we faithfully abide by God’s conditions
from the days of our youth, then God keeps his promises. Otherwise,
God is not obligated to do so. So, if you are already 50 years old,
and have broken God’s commandments concerning fertility all your life,
then it just might be too late for you even if you repent. God will
always forgive if you repent, of course, but that does not mean God will
give you a child. However, it is certainly true that the sooner you
repent of your disobedience, and begin to honor God by obeying Him in your
sex life, the greater the chances are that you will be blessed with children.
Nothing is impossible with God.
Our Personal Testimony
It may be an encouragement to the reader to know that my wife, Cheryle,
and I have obeyed the Bible commands concerning sex in our marriage, and
God has blessed us with eight boys and four girls so far. God’s way
has certainly worked for us. There is nothing special about us, except
that we both wanted to obey the first commandment God gave to man (Gen.
1:27-28), and we both read our Bibles and faithfully obeyed all the commands
concerning sex within marriage. In addition to being blessed with
children, we can also testify to the fact that practicing sex God’s way
has brought us huge bonuses. For instance, judging from what our
friends tell us, and from what we have learned from the marriage counseling
we have done, we have enjoyed much more intense pleasure from our intimate
relationship than have our birth control practicing peers. Birth
control methods are not natural, and natural feels best. Birth control
is not convenient, and destroys spontaneous affection. We have had
much more fun. Furthermore, we have enjoyed that intense pleasure
much more often than they have enjoyed their decreased pleasure.
During pregnancy, menstrual cycles cease, and so does the need for abstinence
during the first (unclean) half of the menstrual cycle. And, speaking
of cleanliness, God’s way is much cleaner, and therefore more pleasant.
Moreover, our sex life has been down right exciting—will this night result
in a child being born? Will God answer our prayer for conception
tonight? In spite of what the atheist, humanist group says, children
are a blessing, just as God has said. Children love their parents,
and give life to a home. Also, Cheryle has experienced far fewer
female health problems than have her birth control practicing peers.
Many birth control techniques such as the pill and I.U.D.’s cause a long
list of serious heath problems, including cancer, heart disease, high blood
pressure, varicose veins, decreased sexual desire, etc., all of which Cheryle
has avoided. All of these blessings have made our marriage much stronger
and happier than it would have been. Knowing that Cheryle loves me
enough to want to see me reproduced is a great feeling. She is one
of the very greatest people I have ever known, and it is my privilege to
also see her spiritual character and physical beauty reproduced in my children.
Having 12 children—all from one wife—I believe I speak with considerable
authority concerning the subject of fertility. I do know what I am
talking about.
Bible Principles Which Increase Fertility and/or Prevent Barrenness
All aspects of life are intertwined. It is therefore important to
read your Bible systematicly and faithfully every day, and to submit to
its every command. Even the commands that seem to be insignificant
can have a dramatic impact on seemingly unrelated aspects of your life.
The more perfectly we keep God’s laws, the more healthy we will be, and
thus the more likely we are to be fertile.
[God] repayeth them that hate him to their face,
to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay
him to his face. Thou shalt therefore
keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command
thee this day, to do them. Wherefore it shall come to pass, if
ye hearken to these judgments, and keep,
and do them,
that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which
he sware unto thy fathers: and he will love thee, and bless
thee, and multiply
thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and
the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase
of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto
thy fathers to give thee. Thou shalt be blessed
above all people: there shall not be male or female
barren among you, or among your cattle. And the LORD will
take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases
of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them
that hate thee. (Deut. 7:11-15)
Sins such as fornication and sodomy often result in venereal diseases which
may leave scars in the sex organs, thus causing barrenness. The following
principles are not, therefore, to be considered the only things that influence
fertility. No doubt there are other things I have overlooked; so
study your Bible carefully. The following principles are, however,
the major ones.
Sleep Together
A marriage ceremony does not produce babies. Nor does kissing.
Nor does hugging. Nor does foreplay. Nor does even coitus (the
sex act itself) if any form of birth control is used. Some couples
are really not honest with themselves in this regard. They complain
about being barren, while at the same time doing everything they can to
prevent conception. While it is not the purpose of this article to
discuss birth control, let it be said very clearly that sexless marriages
are a sin against God (1 Cor. 7:1-5), and so is every other form of birth
control (Gen. 38:7-10; Lev. 15:9-33 and 20:13 and 18; Ex. 21:22-25; Lev.
18:22-25). God does not ask married couples to have children, He
commands it in the very first commandment given in the Bible:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he
him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God
said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and
subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl
of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Gen.
1:27-28)
This commandment is repeated in Gen. 9:1-7; 35:10-12 and 1 Tim. 5:14.
Never is there even a hint in the Bible that the first commandment is repealed.
So throw out your condoms, diaphragms, birth control pills, etc., and get
your sex life into submission to God.
Be Clean and Practice Self-control
While the saying “Cleanliness is Godliness” is not found in the Bible,
that principle most certainly is found over and over again.
God wants his people to be clean. Closely connected to cleanliness,
when discussing fertility, is self-control. While sexless marriages
are forbidden in 1 Cor. 7:1-5, this does not mean that married couples
are allowed to have sex just anytime they want. In fact, sex is emphaticly
forbidden during a certain period of the menstrual cycle which the Bible
declares to be a period of uncleanness.
And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood,
she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be
unclean until the even. And every thing that she lieth upon in her
separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall
be unclean. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes,
and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And whosoever
toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe
himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And if it be on her bed,
or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean
until the even. And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers
be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he
lieth shall be unclean. And if a woman have an issue of her blood
many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time
of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be
as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean. Every bed whereon
she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her
separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness
of her separation. And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean,
and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean
until the even. But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall
number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young
pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle
of the congregation. And the priest shall offer the one for a sin
offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make
an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.
Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that
they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that
is among them. This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of
him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith; And of her that
is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and
of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean. (Lev.
15:19-33)
And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall
uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered
the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among
their people. (Lev. 20:18)
Since the above verses contain the most important keys to fertility, it
is important that we examine them closely.
No Sex Is Allowed During the Issue of Blood
For this article, we will consider that the first day of the menstrual
cycle begins when the wife begins to bleed. This is an extremely
unclean time for a couple to have sex, and the Bible therefore forbids
it. It is impossible to conceive a baby during this time. It
is not important to count how many days bleeding lasts; just refrain
from having sex during this time.
No Sex Is Allowed For Eight Days After the Issue of Blood Stops
Start counting the days the day AFTER bleeding stops. For exactly
eight (8) more days the wife is still unclean and therefore sex is forbidden.
If you know anything about the rhythm method of birth control, you realize
immediately that it is in violation of these Bible verses, and therefore
is a wicked practice.
There is a very practical purpose for this abstinence during a wife’s
uncleanness: it gives time for the husband’s sperm to multiply. Modern
scientific research has shown that the higher the sperm count the greater
the chances of conception (Landrum B. Shettles and David M. Rorvik, How
To Choose the Sex of Your Baby: a complete update on the method best supported
by the scientific evidence, [Garden City, New York: Doubleday &
Company, Inc., 1984], 54-56.
[All the Ibid.’s in this article refer to the above book by Dr. Landrum
B. Shettles. Dr. Shettles is a pioneer expert in fertility and sex
selection, having served as director of the New York Fetility Research
Foundation. He is a graduate of John Hopkins University, and was
an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecoloy at Columbia University’s
College of Physician and Surgeons, and was an attending physician at Columbia-Presbyterian
Medical Center. While his book confirms the scientific accuracy of
the Bible, it also recommends several practices that violate Bible commands.
Most likely he is not aware of this; he makes no pretense of being a Bible
scholar. It may surprise you to know that only since 1960 has science
known the secrets of fertility (Ibid.,50). Yet, these secrets were
written in the word of God thousands of years ago, as the article you are
now reading reveals. Science did not even know that seminal fluid
contains sperm (meaning seed) until the 17th century. “And even then
no one knew for sure what they were or what they did” (Ibid., 39).
Again, this is common Bible knowledge (For example read Gen. 11:11 and
38:8-9). How did the author of the Bible know these secrets so long
ago? He is the God who designed and created sex.]
Begin Having Sex the Night of the Eighth Day
This is an extremely important point. Sex during
the night of the eighth day after bleeding stops is the most apt to result
in conception of a child. Sex
is allowed from this night up until bleeding begins the next menstrual
cycle. However, each day after this eighth day the likelihood of
conception diminishes. The reason for this is that the unfertilized
ovum (egg) only lives for about 24-36 hours. Ovulation generally
takes place on the ninth day after bleeding stops. Sex during the
night of the eighth day gives the sperm the approximately 12 hours it needs
to travel up into the upper region of the Fallopian tube to met the descending
ovum. This is perfect timing (Ibid., 110-115).
After Sexual Intercourse Refrain From Sex Until the Next Evening
At this point, some couples may try to have sex as many times as the husband
is physically capable during the next 24 hours, trying to assure that the
ovum is fertilized. This is a big mistake, as it results in lower
sperm count ejaculations which are far less likely to result in conception.
It is also not a good idea for cleanliness reasons. God commands
couples to wait until the following evening.
And if any man’s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall
wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. And every
garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed
with water, and be unclean until the even. The woman also with whom
man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves
in water, and be unclean until the even. (Lev. 15:16-18)
The importance of cleanliness and self-control as specified for both the
husband and wife in Leviticus chapter 15 as discussed above cannot be stressed
too much, as proper observance of these two commands regulates the build
up of sperm and proper timing of coitus necessary for maximum possibility
of conception.
Bathe In Running Water
So far we have discussed being clean in the sense of refraining from sex
during the unclean period of the menstrual cycle. However, it is
also important to know how to take a bath, and to be sure to take one before
copulation. If for no other reason, this is important so as to prevent
ones mate from smelling obnoxious body odors that would make copulation
unpleasant and therefore rarely performed. To really get clean, one
must bathe in “running water.”
And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall
number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and
bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean. (Lev. 15:13)
An ordinary tub bath does not get one clean enough. Dirt and even
feces from the body get into the bath water and some of it will remain
on the body. This could easily enter the vagina during intercourse,
and cause disease. For this reason, a shower is much better than
a bath. If your bathroom does not have a shower, you should stand
up and rinse off—all over, but especially in your private areas—thoroughly
with clean water running directly from the faucet using a bucket or dipper
of some kind.
Note that the above verse also instructs that clothing be washed.
After a bath one should dry off with a clean towel and put on clean night
clothes. Sex should be a holy act, and one should approach it squeaky
clean. It also, makes things more pleasant to put on some cologne
or perfume (Song of Solomon 1:3 and 12-13).
Love Each Other
It is important that the husband love his wife enough to learn how to bring
her to orgasm before he ejaculates. The reason for this is that orgasm
causes the wife’s cervical secretions to flow and therefore produces a
thinner, more alkaline fluid for the sperm to swim in while searching to
enter the cervix. The thinner fluid makes it easier for the sperm
to get where they have to go. The increased alkalinity makes it more
likely that the sperm will survive in the otherwise acid conditions of
the vagina.
A man is bruitish indeed if he selfishly satisfies his own needs without
first satisfying his wife’s. Husband, ask your wife what feels good
to her, and then do it. Wife, you are married now; you can and must
discuss this adult subject with your husband. If you have never done
so, sit down together and read the Song of Solomon. Try to determine
when Solomon was speaking and when his wife was speaking. Then, husband,
you read Solomon’s words to your wife. And you, wife, read Solomon’s
wife’s words to your husband. Relax and enjoy what God intended to
be enjoyable.
Specific techniques for achieving orgasm are outside the scope of this
article. For now, let it just be said that modern scientific research
has proven that virtually any wife can experience orgasm. Keep trying
until you learn how.
Avoid Alcohol and Drugs, Etc.
The Bible very clearly forbids the use of alcohol and drugs. While
a through discussing of this topic is also outside the scope of this article,
it needs to be stated that modern scientific research has proven that these
dangerous chemicals decrease fertility. Dr. Shettles says:
Abuse of any of a number of drugs, including alcohol, can result in
at least temporary male infertility. Marijuana has been shown to
diminish male hormones and thus reduce sperm counts, factors that might...result
in infertility. Normal fertility can be regained, in most cases, by abstaining
from drugs for a period of months (Ibid., 139)
Dr. Shettles also says that even long-term, heavy use of coffee can reduce
fertility by lowering sperm count (Ibid., 118). Heavy use of other
drinks containing caffeine, such as colas, etc., would also probably be
detrimental to fertility.
Radioactivity also adversely affects fertility. And, of course,
we should never allow our reproductive organs to be x-rayed.
Husbands Should Avoid Prolonged Exposure To Excessive Heat
Modern scientific research proves that the temperature of the testicles
must be maintained at one degree centigrade below normal body temperature
in order to efficiently produce sperm. Dr. John Rock reports that
Any clothing that prevents maintenance of an intrascrotal temperature
that is at least one degree centigrade below [normal] body temperature
will significantly lower sperm output. Daily wear of a well-fitting,
closely knit jockstrap results in infertility after four weeks....Normal
output gradually is resumed after another three weeks without such interference.
(Ibid., 143)
Working in excessively hot job environments such as near furnaces, in trucks
with heaters that are too hot can also adversely affect fertility.
So can prolonged, excessively hot bathes, etc.
Coping With a Tipped Uterus
It used to be that women were operated on to correct a tipped uterus.
Dr. Shettles reports that today such operations are rare. A tipped
uterus is of “little or no clinical significance” (Ibid., 142). However,
a woman with a tipped uterus may aid conception by laying on her stomach
with a pillow under her thighs for at least 15 minutes immediately after
coitus (Ibid., 142).
Bonuses From Doing Things God’s Way
The are several distinct advantages to obeying God in this matter of sex.
That sex is cleaner, and therefore healthier, done God’s way has already
been discussed. So has the fact that it is most likely to result
in conception. Not yet discussed are two other important bonuses.
Improved Chance of Having a Healthy Baby
By decreasing the time between coitus and conception, less stress is put
on the ovum and sperm, and therefore conception is most likely to take
place with both ovum and sperm in strong, vigorous condition. This
increases the chance of conceiving a strong, healthy baby.
Improved Chance of Having a Boy
It is absolutely essential that more boys be conceived than girls because
of a simple fact of life: at every stage of life males are most likely
to die than females.
The male, it seems, starts out life, even at the pre-conception stage,
in a state of “inferiority,” a state which is borne out all through life
and is evidenced in the fact that there are far more stillbirths and miscarriages
of male children than of female, in the fact that more boys than girls
die in infancy, in the fact that women have longer life spans and are more
resistant to many types of disease, and so on. It is only by having
a numerical advantage at the outset that the male keeps roughly even with
the female. (Ibid., 51)
In one study doing sex God’s way resulted in approximately 130 boys born
to every 100 females (Ibid., 79). In the hard facts of life as fallen
creatures on a sin-cursed earth, this translates out to about one male
for each female at the age of sexual maturity.
When babies are conceived in spite of birth control methods—especially
the Rhythm Method—they tend to be mostly female, and not as healthy as
the babies conceived God’s way (124-132). Consider the long-term
effects of this on society. There will of necessity be many lonely
old maids, and not by their own choice. This even further decreases
the population because these women will have no husbands to give them conception.
The sexual rebellion of their parent’s generation will have doomed them
to such a sad plight. God forbid that such a situation develop in
our churches!
Concerning sex selection, it is needful to warn that it is immoral to
violate Bible commands in order to select the sex of a child. We
should simply obey the Bible, and be happy and satisfied with whatever
sex God chooses to give our children.
Sex Is An Act of Worship
We read in Leviticus chapter 15 that on the eighth day, before having sexual
intercourse that night, the wife was to take two turtle doves or two young
pigeons to the temple to be offered up one as a sin offering and the other
as a burnt offering to God to make an atonement for her before the Lord
for the issue of her uncleanness. In this way she admitted her sinfulness
and unworthiness of being blessed of God with a child, but in addition
she symbolized her faith in the coming Messiah whose blood washes away
all the sins of those who believe in Him and makes them pure in God’s eyes.
After this she would return home to disrobe and joyously enter into the
holy marriage union without fear, without guilt, and without shame, just
as Eve did before sin ruined the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:24-25).
The Lord Jesus Christ has already died on the cross for our sins, therefore
we no longer have to bring those blood sacrifices which could only symbolicly
(not really) take away sins (Heb. 10:4). Still, sex remains the most
joyful to those who have been washed from their sins in the blood of Jesus
Christ, and therefore have forgivenness and the peace that only comes to
thoses who know for sure that they will go to Heaven when they die.
Sex performed God’s way by God’s people is an act of worship. And
through obedience to God in this most basic of all worship ceremonies—cooperating
with God in the procreation of the human race—we show God that we love
Him enough to want to see His image reproduced in children (Gen. 1:27).
By submitting ourselves to the conception of children, we also show our
faith in God, that He will never command us to do something without also
making it possible for us to do what He commanded (Heb. 11:6). Furthermore,
by obeying God’s first commandment we accept the heritage and reward God
in love wants to bless us with, instead of trying to prevent receiving
that heritage and reward as though it were a curse God is hatefully forcing
upon us (Ps. 127:3). People who put off bearing children until having
established a career (or for whatever reason) often learn the hard way
that “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it”
(Ps. 127.1). Only God can grant the miracle of conception.
So pray before sleeping together, for without God’s favor all your efforts
will be in vain.
How many children should we have? We should diligently follow
God’s plan. He decides how many or few to give us. We must
trust God’s wisdom in this matter, knowing that He loves us and always
gives us what is best for us. If you are obeying God in all aspects
of this matter yet have not conceived, do not feel guilty for you are not
guilty. Relax and enjoy your life as it now is. Wait patiently
on the Lord. Trust fully in God’s timing. It just may be that
he has a John the Baptist planned for you (Read Luke chapter one).
On the other hand, if you have not been obeying God’s commands you should
feel guilty for you are guilty. In that case, repent that God my
grant you forgiveness.
What we do in our bedrooms is a very personal act, but it has very public
consequences. Our children will become the pastors, deacons, missionaries,
and soul-winners needed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the millions
of lost souls on this earth only if our children are conceived and then
lovingly trained for Christ. A child who “should have been but is
not” will never attend church, will never tithe, will never pray, will
never sing praises to God, will never love God, will never lead a soul
to Christ. Millions of lost souls in the next generation are dependent
upon our children to tell them how to escape Hell. If we refuse to
conceive and train the children with which God wants to bless us, the blood
of those they would have won to Christ will be on our hands.
I pray for you the blessing with which Rebekah’s family blessed her:
And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto
her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands
of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate
them. (Gen. 24:60)
Be sure to also read "Ye Must Be Born Again."
(C) Copyright 1994 by Louis A. Turk. All rights reserved. You may
reprint this article, provided you do not edit it in any way without the
author's consent, and provided this paragraph is printed at the end of
the article. Other publication requires advance permission of the
author.
Louis A. Turk, B.A., M.Div., Ph.D.
www.EternalSecurity.Org
The website dedicated to the study of eternal life.
ETERNAL LIFE IS NOT TEMPORARY LIFE!
Louis A. Turk, B.A., M.Div., Ph.D.
www.Eternal-Salvation.Org
The website dedicated to the study of eternal life.
ETERNAL LIFE IS NOT TEMPORARY LIFE!