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

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Extending or Manipulating Cycles


Extending Cycles

Classic formulations of combination hormonal contraceptives create a 28-day cycle. Although convenient for medical calculations, this particular interval is simply a matter of convention. Therefore, a woman may consult with her physician about the possibility of lengthening her cycle by taking the active pills (or extending the ring or patch) for more than 21 days.

The likelihood of breakthrough bleeding increases the longer one continues to take hormones without interruption. It is best to gradually extend the weeks of active hormones over a few cycles until one finds an arrangement that works well.

Some newer formulations of combination hormonal contraceptives are designed to allow the uterine lining to shed only four times a year, or eliminate menstruation altogether. In principle, this creates no halachic problems. In practice, there is anecdotal evidence that these formulations cause significant breakthough bleeding that could make women niddah. Therefore, it may be more practical to extend one’s cycle by combining packs of the standard 28-day pills, with a physician’s approval and supervision.

Extending or manipulating cycles is fairly straightforward with monophasic pills, where all 21 active pills in a package have the same formulation. It is more complicated with triphasic pills, where the dosages of estrogen and progesterone vary over the course of each cycle.

Manipulating Cycles

Women who are already taking hormonal contraceptives may be able to adjust the timing to avoid being niddah while traveling or on vacation. A woman may also be able to plan her cycle so that she can use the mikveh before a planned surgery and then remain tehorah for an extended time while she recovers. Although some manipulation is possible, the hormones do need be interrupted periodically to allow for shedding of the uterine lining, and any alteration in cycle length should be discussed with a physician.

A woman who is not using hormonal contraception, and wishes to manipulate her cycle on an occasional basis (e.g., to avoid being niddah on vacation), should consult with her physician. There are a few medical possibilities; for example, a doctor may prescribe a progesterone formulation at the end of the cycle to delay menses.

Hormonal manipulation for brides seeking to avoid being niddah at the wedding is discussed in the article Setting the Wedding Date.


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All health and health-related information contained within Nishmat's Women's Health & Halacha Web site is intended to be general in nature and should not be used as a substitute for consulting with your health care professional. The advice is intended to offer a basis for individuals to discuss their medical condition with their health care provider but not individual advice. Although every effort is made to ensure that the material within Nishmat's Women's Health & Halacha Web site is accurate and timely, it is provided for the convenience of the Web site user but should not be considered official. Advice for actual medical practice should be obtained from a licensed health care professional.


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