The Orthodox Church has a clear stance on promiscuity. Sexual relations are considered blessed and morally acceptable only within the marital union between a man and a woman. Promiscuity is regarded in Orthodoxy as the sin of fornication, which disrupts God’s plan for human community and family.
Marriage is a sacred mystery in which a man and a woman are united as one, and the sexual act is a manifestation of their love and unity. It is intended for procreation and the mutual spiritual and physical fulfillment of the spouses. Sexual relations outside of marriage, or fornication, are considered sinful. Promiscuity—frequent changes of sexual partners—represents destructive behavior that harms both spiritual well-being and physical health. While often perceived as freedom, such behavior leads to spiritual bondage and inner fragmentation.Consequences of Promiscuity
Orthodox teachings, as well as life experiences, warn of the harmful consequences of promiscuity on both individual and societal levels. These include spiritual decline, emotional and psychological issues, the erosion of family values, and physical consequences such as the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
In recent times, there has been a notable increase in autism, preterm births, and reproductive organ cancers. The majority of these issues are linked to promiscuous behavior. A significant role is played by viruses often transmitted through sperm. Among the viruses with proven high replication capabilities are adenovirus, hepatitis E virus, dengue virus, enterovirus, mumps virus, coronavirus, and Toscana virus.
Research is ongoing regarding the role of herpes viruses types 6 and 7, papillomaviruses, and streptococcus. To date, 22 viruses causing acute infections and persisting in human sperm or spermatozoa have been identified. These viruses can cause acute infections transmissible to women. Regarding chronic infections, it has been proven that spermatozoa can transmit latent infections that pose risks of miscarriage in women. These include cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes viruses 6 and 8, Epstein-Barr virus, Parvovirus B19, and Streptococcus.If an infection is not recognized and treated in time, it can lead to spontaneous miscarriages, fetal infections in the womb, the passage of inflammatory cytokines through the blood-brain barrier, and microglial activation in the child during infections or immune suppression. This can result in the disruption of neural connections and developmental regression in the child.
Autism and Risk Factors
Autism is characterized by a lack of social interaction and repetitive behavioral patterns. Regular gynecological check-ups and proper preparation for parenthood, especially for couples where at least one partner has engaged in promiscuous behavior, play a significant role in autism prevention. Proper diagnosis and treatment can mitigate consequences and, in some cases, prevent autism and preterm births. Numerous scientific studies in the United States and worldwide have demonstrated that, in addition to the health of reproductive organs, the health of the child’s gastrointestinal tract before vaccination is crucial. In addition to basic tests (complete blood count, urine, CRP), two rapid indicators of inflammation in the body are TNF and calprotectin. As vaccines have saved the world from many diseases, it is advisable to check these parameters before each immunization to ensure they are within normal ranges.
Preparation for Parenthood
Before planning a family, in accordance with God’s law, parents should avoid sexual relations with multiple partners. Both the man and woman should be completely healthy, with reproductive organs free of acute or chronic inflammations. If autism has previously occurred in the family, genetic testing (karyotype, CNV, and WES analyses) and checks for mutations that may contribute to autism—such as Fragile X syndrome, MTHFR C677T mutation, RELN gene, and various chromosomal deletions, inversions, and duplications—are necessary. Autism is not attributed to a single mutation but to a combination of multiple genes. Sometimes, the cause is not genetic but rather due to preterm birth, underdeveloped gastrointestinal tract, infections, or disrupted bacterial flora, leading to inflammation, reduced nutrient absorption, and impaired neural connections.
Healthcare for Children with Autism
Since children with autism are often nonverbal and cannot express pain or discomfort, medical care is complex and requires collaboration among an interdisciplinary team: pediatricians, gastroenterologists, epileptologists, geneticists, pediatric radiologists, ENT specialists (due to frequent streptococcal infections and tonsil issues), physiotherapists, occupational therapists, special educators, and speech therapists. Autism is a complex condition requiring expert and coordinated care, as provided by doctors at the University Hospital in Shenzhen. It has been observed that in some children with autism, MRI scans of the thalamus show sclerotic changes that may serve as epileptogenic foci, potentially leading to epilepsy if not treated promptly.
Parental Health as the Foundation for Healthy Offspring
If parents are reproductively healthy before marriage, with strong immunity, a healthy gastrointestinal tract, normal genome, and microbiome, vaccination should not cause developmental regression or autism in the child. The child’s immunity is significantly influenced by a normal bacterial flora, established through vaginal delivery and continued through breastfeeding. A proper diet rich in dietary fiber supports a healthy microbiome and reduces inflammation. Dietary fiber modulates the composition and function of gut microbiota, increasing the presence of bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are critical for host health. Fiber-rich therapies or SCFAs are proposed for inflammatory bowel diseases, though effects vary due to differences in dosing and study duration. Nonetheless, the combination of dietary fiber and a healthy microbiome holds promising prospects for precise therapies in the future. In cases where bacterial flora is not properly established, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) may be a solution. FMT is a medical procedure in which healthy gut bacteria from one person are transferred to another to restore a healthy gut microbiome.
God created the world, establishing the human microbiome and the relationship between man and woman with the emergence of plants and animals. As a reward for their love, He granted them healthy offspring. We hope that, by God’s providence, we will restore a normal microbiome and genome, and by avoiding promiscuous behavior, preserve the health of our families and future generations.
