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Golda Koschitzky Hotline
Some women experience distinct physical symptoms that clearly signal the onset of menstruation. These may be considered a special type of veset known as a veset haguf (physical veset).
Halachic sources that discuss veset haguf mention some more common premenstrual symptoms, like cramping—as well as unusual symptoms, like fits of sneezing or yawning.
A physical symptom can only be established as a veset haguf if a woman uniquely and consistently experiences it at a fixed time in conjunction with uterine blood-flow.
We follow the view that if such a symptom ends no earlier than one day before the onset of a woman’s blood-flow, then it is clearly considered a veset haguf. A woman with a clear, distinctive, and consistently-timed symptom that is more distant from her flow should ask an individual question to determine if she has a veset haguf.
If a woman has a certain symptom, sometimes in conjunction with her menstrual blood-flow and at other times unrelated to it, then the symptom is not considered a veset haguf.
So, for example, a woman who feels a distinct pain in her back within a day before the start of her period would treat it as a veset haguf, if she does not feel that type of pain at other times. However, a woman who frequently has cramping before her period, and sometimes has similar cramping at other times of the month, would not treat her cramping as a veset haguf.
Mood changes or a general intuition that one’s period is about to start are not considered a veset haguf. Bodily signs that require measurement to detect (like a temperature change), are usually not considered a veset haguf. Physical symptoms of ovulation (like secretions) are usually not sufficiently distinctive, or not sufficiently close to the onset of menstruation, to count as a veset haguf.
Premenstrual Staining and Veset Haguf
Sometimes a woman consistently has staining that either ends within a day of beginning her blood-flow or develops into a flow. This may be considered a veset haguf so long as it is distinctive and the timing is regular. A woman who has a longer, but consistent, interval before the flow begins or who notices a different distinctive and consistent pattern should seek personal halachic guidance.
However, if a woman sometimes has similar staining earlier in the cycle, or if the duration of the staining until the flow begins is inconsistent (e.g., sometimes it lasts for one day before her flow begins and sometimes for two days), then this premenstrual staining is generally not considered a veset haguf.
When a woman has staining that does not make her niddah close to when a flow is expected, and the staining is not considered a veset haguf, then marital relations are permissible (when it’s not a veset day). However, we usually recommend that a couple abstain from relations for a day or so from staining, as a precaution against a flow beginning during relations. Learn more here.
In general, women are encouraged to take precautions—such as wearing colored underwear or disposable pantyliners—to avoid becoming niddah from stains. This is the case even if a woman’s availing herself of these precautions might make it less likely that she would notice distinctive staining that could be considered a veset haguf.
Establishing a Veset Haguf
Veset She’eino Kavua
A woman should observe a veset haguf even if a symptom happens only once or twice. This is called a veset haguf she’eino kavua (a veset haguf that is not halachically established) and occurs when:
- She has a distinct physical symptom that seems associated with her flow
and - The symptom ended within a day before the onset of her blood-flow (or she experienced a distinct symptom at a longer interval before the onset of her blood-flow, and has been advised to observe a veset haguf she’eino kavua).
A veset haguf she’eino kavua is observed in addition to a woman’s usual vesatot. For example, a woman has an unusual soreness in her breasts at night, and her flow begins the following day. If this soreness recurs, then she should note it on her veset calendar and observe a veset haguf the following onah. She will still observe her usual veset days as well.
A veset haguf that is eino kavua (not halachically fixed) is uprooted if a woman experiences the symptom once with no associated blood-flow at the expected interval.
Veset Kavua (A halachically established menstrual pattern)
If a woman has three instances of a veset haguf at a consistent interval before the onset of her blood-flow, then she establishes a veset kavua. This is the case even if her blood-flow sometimes begins at night and sometimes begins during the day, and we follow the view that it is the case even if she has an intervening cycle without the symptom.
For example, if over three cycles she has unique bloating that is followed, within a day, by a blood-flow, then she establishes a veset haguf kavua. This is the case even if her bloating was sometimes during the day and sometimes at night, as long as the blood-flow followed at a consistent interval from the bloating.
Once a woman has established a veset haguf kavua, and for as long as her pattern does not change, she is released from observing a veset hachodesh (day of the month) and a veset haflagah (interval). There is disagreement as to whether she still observes the onah beinonit (thirtieth day) in this case. We follow the view that she does not observe the onah beinonit when her bleeding typically begins later during her symptom or after the symptom ends.
If she has a cycle in which her blood flow begins without being preceded by her symptom, then in her next cycle she also observes the veset hachodesh and veset haflagah.
A veset haguf kavua is uprooted if a woman experiences the symptom on three consecutive occasions (on three separate days), with no associated blood-flow at the expected interval.
Observing a Veset Haguf
Observing a veset haguf entails performing a bedikah at some point during the veset and abstaining from marital relations throughout the veset. If the bedikah comes out clean, then the couple may resume relations on the following onah (day or night).
If a woman did not perform a bedikah while observing a veset haguf that is kavua, then she must perform one prior to resuming relations. Some halachic authorities maintain that this is the case even for a veset haguf she’eino kavua.
Timing of a Veset Haguf
These are the most common scenarios for timing of a veset haguf. In other scenarios, a woman should seek out individual halachic advice.
If the flow begins during the symptom, or at the same time as the symptom, and continues after the symptom ends, then the veset haguf will be observed from when she next experiences the symptom until the end of the onah (day or night) in which the symptom ends.
For example, if a woman wakes in the morning with distinctive menstrual cramps, and her flow begins later that day and continues even after the cramping subsides that night, then she observes a veset haguf from when she next experiences cramping until the end of the onah in which the cramping subsides.
If the flow begins after the symptom ends, within a day of its end, then the veset haguf will be observed for one onah (day or night) at the corresponding interval from the symptom’s end the next time she experiences the symptom.
For example, if the flow began an hour after the symptom ended, then the next time she experiences the symptom, the veset haguf will be observed from an hour after the symptom ends until the end of that onah (day or night).
If the flow began in the onah (day or night) following the onah in which the symptom ended, then the next time she experiences the symptom, the veset haguf will be observed on the onah following the onah in which the symptom ends.
Veset Murkav
A woman’s veset haguf may be associated with a specific day of the month or interval from her last blood-flow. For example, every Rosh Chodesh, or on day 29 of every cycle, she has a coughing fit and then her blood-flow begins. In this case, known as a veset haguf hamurkav, the day becomes part of the veset haguf, so that the symptoms could be ignored if experienced on a different day.
This type of veset is uncommon. We encourage women with questions about it to ask an individual halachic question.
