man from intentionally arousing himself: The Shulchan Aruch and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch state that wasting sperm is considered to be a sin greater than any sin in the Torah. However, the Beit Shmuel commentary states that this is not literal, but rather serves to frighten man into avoiding the sin. The Arizal taught that one is obligated to fast eighty-four times to repent for the discharging of semen in vain. The Tanya contends that, in current times, one can give to charity in place of fasting. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov claimed that masturbation leads to depression, and that the effects of impure ejaculation can only be nullified through the recitation of the Tikkun Haklali. According to Sefer haChinuch, one of the reasons for the prohibition on male homosexual sex is that sperm is destroyed for no constructive purpose. Female masturbation Female masturbation is not explicitly prohibited, but authorities such as Rabbi Moshe Feinstein consider female masturbation as necessarily involving forbidden "impure thoughts". However, Hida and Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank disagreed. Ben Ish Chai states that it is wrong because it creates evil forces (Kelipos). In any case, female masturbation does not carry the severity of male masturbation, because it does not involve the release of seed. Situations in which halakha may permit "wasting" sperm There is disagreement among the poskim (decisors of Jewish law) whether masturbation is an acceptable way of procuring semen for artificial insemination or in vitro fertilisation. Some poskim rule that it is possible to masturbate to avoid arayot (forbidden relationships). Sefer Hasidim states that if a man's sexual desire is so great that he is afraid of committing a worse sin, then he is allowed to masturbate in order to avoid a worse sin, but must then perform penance by fasting or sitting in ice water. Married couples Even if a wife is unable to become pregnant (e.g. infertile, old, or currently pregnant or nursing), sexual relations between a married couple are not only permitted, but required within the framework of the commandment of onah. This is despite the fact that the sperm will be "wasted" in the sense of not causing pregnancy. Rabbinic authorities have in certain instances permitted intentional extra-vaginal ejaculation in tandem with a man's wife. Rabbi Meir recommended a man perform coitus interruptus (דש מבפנים וזורה מבחוץ) with his wife while she is pregnant or nursing, for health reasons. For similar reasons,