We understand why the different requirements for women and men may at first appear imbalanced and even unfair. We hope that providing a bit of context for these halachot helps to explain the difference.

On a Torah level, a man is indeed considered tamei (ritually impure) after a seminal emission, and requires immersion to become tahor (ritually pure). However, like most laws related to tum’ah (ritual impurity), this has very little practial relevance today. In the absence of the Temple and the red heifer ritual, everyone is considered ritually impure.

On a rabbinic level, in a measure intended to moderate sexual activity, Ezra decreed that men who had seminal emissions would require ritual immersion before praying or studying Torah. This decree was never universally accepted, however, and was annulled during the Talmudic period.

Niddah is unique because it is more than just a matter of tum’ah. The Torah prohibits sexual relations during niddah, a Biblical prohibition that remains in full force. Therefore, to this day, a woman needs to immerse in order to resume a physical relationship with her husband, as a matter of Torah law.

Please write back to us with any further questions.

This response was updated on 25 September, 2025.