Sterilization

From Halachipedia
  1. The Torah prohibits the destruction of human and animal reproductive organs.[1]
  2. If a male's reproductive organs were damaged after birth he is excluded from the Jewish community[2]
  3. Sterilizing a woman is also forbidden.[3]
  4. Using a medicine to sterilize a man or animal is forbidden.[4]
  5. One may not have a non-jew sterilize an animal on his behalf. Therefore if one has a pet dog or cat one may not instruct the vet to neuter and spay, rather he should sell the animal to a non-jew and that non-jew should instruct the vet to do the procedure.[5]

Sources

  1. ↑ Vayikra 22:24, S”A EH 5:11
  2. ↑ Deuteronomy 23:2, Rambam Isurei Biyah 16:9, Shulchan Arukh Even HaEzer 5:10. Some say that if there is no visible damage to the reproductive organs and yet is unable to bear children he is muttar lavo b'kahal, Arukh HaShulchan Even HaEzer 5:24
  3. ↑ Rambam Isurei Biyah 16:11, Shulchan Aruch EH 5:11. Gra EH 5:25 implies it is biblical without malkot. Perisha 5:30 explains that the reason it is forbidden to sterilize women is because they won’t be able to populate the world (lo tohu l’shevet yetzara) which also applies to women.
  4. ↑ Gemara Shabbat 110b, Shulchan Aruch EH 5:12
  5. ↑ Shulchan Arukh Even HaEzer 5:14