In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R’ Avraham

In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

Extending cycle, breakthrough bleeding, and onot
March 3, 2016

Question

Recently I started birth control pills and I am extending my cycle. So far, I have been taking the active pills until I start bleeding and then I switch to the placebo. Each month my cycle gets longer (I first bled after 30 days then 33 then 37…). The active pills can be taken for up to three months without a break.

My question is do I need to do the monthly/average onah if I know my period won't be till much later? And when would I keep onot? My last cycle was around 44 days and next one will, if I keep following this pattern, be longer.

Answer

There is halachic debate regarding veset observance when a woman consistently starts bleeding only after the onah beinonit has passed. We follow the view that a woman with at least three consecutive intervals of 32 days or more is exempt from observing onah beinonit and yom hachodesh, and observes only the interval. (If she later experiences a shorter cycle, she returns to observing all of the onot.)

If we understand you correctly, at this point you need only observe the interval. You calculate this veset as usual, based on the interval between your last two periods, even though you anticipate that it will lengthen. (If you notice a perfectly precise pattern, where the interval increases by a fixed number of days each cycle (e.g., 33, 37, 41, 45...), please write back to us for further guidance.)

If and when you no longer become niddah while taking these active pills, you may be able to switch to observing a veset based on the interval between cessation of active pills and becoming niddah. Learn more here.

Please do note that it is very common for women to experience breakthrough bleeding when extending the cycle with contraceptive pills, even after they have been doing so for some time. Please be in touch if and when other questions arise. You may also find it helpful to review the laws of staining, which can be found on our pages on Stains and Toilet Paper.

B'hatzlacha!
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