Taharah Process & vesatot with HRT bleeding

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July 20, 2014

Question

I am reviewing the halachot with a friend who is post menopausal, on HRT (hormone replacement therapy), which makes her have withdrawal bleeds, and about to marry for a second time. Does she count the withdrawal bleeds as normal periods, and should she still count the five-day minimum plus shiva nekiim if she bleeds monthly? If she chooses to only have a withdrawal bleed every 3 months, are there any differences, if over or under 90 days, in either the hefsek taharah/shiva nekiim or in counting her vesatot?

Answer

Withdrawal bleeding from HRT does render a woman niddah if she experiences an actual flow (bleeding comparable to a period). She is required to complete the process of becoming tehorah in the usual manner, waiting five days before counting the seven clean days and immersing.

She will only observe a veset from when she stops taking the active pill and expects to begin bleeding. See our article on vesatot and hormonal treatment for more details.

The length of intervals between withdrawal bleeds does not make a difference for these halachot.

Mazal tov on the upcoming wedding! To review halachot of becoming tehorah before the wedding, see here.

This response was updated on 4 December 2024.