Nishmat's Women’s Health and HalachaIn memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

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Bleeding after norethisterone – minimum days?

22 October, 2017

Question:

I have just come off norethisterone, which was supposed to delay my period. Unfortunately it instead resulted in continuous and heavy spotting, but I did not put in a pad or consider myself niddah.

Approximately 3 days after finishing the cycle of pills, as expected, the bleeding became heavier, and I became niddah. I believe I saw on the leaflet I was given when it was prescribed that the bleeding following the pills is not actually a period, but is a kind of withdrawal bleeding. In fact, I have had a clear bedikah today on day 4, and I am usually never clear on day four. Given that it is not a real period, do I have to wait five days, or can I count four and then begin the sheva nekiim? (We are Ashkenazi.)


Answer:

Whenever a woman stops taking hormonal medication and experiences bleeding , the bleeding is not a "real" period but is withdrawal bleeding from the change of hormonal levels. (This applies whether the hormones are prescribed for contraception, to manipulate her cycle, or for other medical reasons.) Nevertheless, there is no halachic distinction between uterine withdrawal bleeding and uterine menstrual bleeding. Both are subject to the same laws of niddah.

Therefore, even in this situation, you are required to wait five days before counting your seven clean days.

Please feel free to get back to us with any further questions.

B'hatzlacha!


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