In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R’ Avraham

In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

What is permissible during premenstrual staining?
14/12/2022

Question

Hi. I have a question regarding staining before my period.
Each month, a few days before i get my period, I see some reddish/brownish blood on toilet paper and in the toilet (I try not to look and know that most say those surfaces are not mekabel tumah). I also have typical PMS cramps and symptoms during this time. I wear colored dark underwear. I don’t declare myself niddah at that time (so no harchakos, and we can hold hands etc., and for my veset calculations I use my actual date when my flow/period begins).
My question is regarding tashmish during this time. Is it permissible? Advisable? What about kissing or being in the same bed? Please advise. Thank you!

Answer

Thank you for reaching out to us.
At any point in the cycle, when a woman has staining that does not make her niddah, she is not niddah. That means that fundamentally she is permitted to have relations.
However, we usually advise that a woman in this situation abstain from relations as a precaution against a flow beginning during relations. Kissing or sharing a bed would be permitted, though it would be advisable to refrain from conduct that may lead to relations.
Additionally, a woman who consistently has non-niddah staining prior to her flow may be considered to have a veset haguf, a veset linked to bodily signs. Based on what you write, it sounds as though you have a veset haguf for premenstrual staining accompanied by cramps. That means that you should observe a veset after your staining begins when you reach the minimum interval between the onset of premenstrual staining with cramps and the onset of your flow. For example, if the flow regularly starts two days or more after premenstrual staining begins, you would observe a veset on day two from the beginning of that staining.
Please be in touch with any further questions.

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