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

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Contraception during medical school

12 December, 2006

Question:

I'm currently engaged and am in my first year of medical school. The wedding is set for this August. I wanted to know if it would be permitted for me to put off having children for another three years until I finished medical school.


Answer:

Mazal tov on your engagement!

Our site's rabbinical supervisor, R Yehuda Henkin, does not usually give permission for extended use of contraception when the factor involved is the pursuit of a career.  If you would like to have a specific ruling from him, please write back with any other information relevant to your decision.

However, in decisions about contraception, we think it is preferable for a couple to meet in person with a rabbi whose rulings and insight both members accept.  The couple can thus also form a relationship with that rabbi and return to him with follow up questions and concerns and can seek his guidance on other matters.  The communication and understanding possible in a personal relationship can also enhance the precision of rulings and the observance of halacha.


This internet service does not preclude, override or replace the psak of any rabbinical authority. It is the responsibility of the questioner to inform us of any previous consultation or ruling. As even slight variation in circumstances may have Halachic consequences, views expressed concerning one case may not be applied to other, seemingly similar cases. 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. For further questions or comments:  The Nishmat Women's Health and Halacha Site is a public service of Nishmat, The Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Advanced Torah Study for Women. This project and others like it are made possible by contributions from people like you. If you have benefited from the service, and wish to enable us to help others, click here to donate.

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