IVF during clean days

Hi,

Thanks for your wonderful service.

I noticed that the answer to question #2313 indicates that there is no problem with undergoing embryo transfer with IVF while a woman is a nidah. Question #2263 seems to indicate that there is room to permit this, but it is not unequivocally permissible.

Please clarify and advise.

Thanks

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your question.

Not all rabbinic authorities allow IVF to take place during the clean days.  Question 2263 is a general, theoretical question.  [Question 2263 has since been de-posted, in an effort to reduce duplicate posts on the site. The answer to that question was: "There is room to permit IVF during the clean days. If it looks like this will be necessary, please get back with more details about what is planned so that we can guide you accordingly."-- ed.]  Our answer  reflects our attempts to be circumspect when dealing with these questions in general when they are subject to debate.  However, in the opinion of our site's rabbinic supervisor, Rav Yehuda H. Henkin, a woman is permitted to undergo IVF prior to immersion, when necessary.  Therefore, our answer to the specific questioner  of 2313, a woman with no alternative that cycle, presented his halachic ruling without hesitation.

To summarize, IVF, with or without embryo transfer, is preferably performed after immersion.  In the opinion of many halachic authorities, including Rav Henkin, both procedures may be performed during the clean days when necessary.

We urge you to ask any specific follow-up question directly, so that we can provide you with a specific answer.  As we stress at the bottom of every question and answer, "this internet service does not preclude, override or replace the psak of any rabbinical authority. . . .  As even slight variation in circumstances may have halachic consequences, views expressed concerning one case may not be applied to another."

This internet service does not preclude, override or replace the psak of any rabbinical authority. It is the responsibility of the questioner to inform us of any previous consultation or ruling. As even slight variation in circumstances may have Halachic consequences, views expressed concerning one case may not be applied to other, seemingly similar cases.

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