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

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Ovulating day after mikveh

22 December, 2009
Question:

Please advise.

I am 33, my husband 41 and we have been married ten months. I got pregnant two months after the wedding, but had a miscarriage at 10 weeks. Since I had the D&C my periods have become exactly 28–29 days.

I bleed for 7 days and then count 7 clean days.

I have been to see my OB⁄GYN, as she informed me following blood tests, that I ovulate on the day after mikveh night. This means we only have one short window of opportunity to get pregnant.

We understand, to optimise the chances of getting pregnant, one needs a few days before ovulation.

We have tried the past few months on mikveh night and afterward with no luck.

What can we do, it’s upsetting and frustrating to keep trying month after month and we only have disappointment, because we only have one chance a month?

Is there anything halachikly to give us more time before ovulation?

Many thanks in advance


Answer:

Once a woman ovulates, she is fertile for approximately another twenty-four hours. In other words, between mikveh night and the following night, you have a number of opportunities to have relations and conceive. Given that there are differing opinions on what combination of timing and number of attempts optimizes fertility, it is not clear that halacha is constraining your fertility in this case.

It is important to realize that, even in cases where there is no halachic factor, it can take several months to become pregnant.  That you became pregnant so soon after marrying was fortunate, and is a good indicator of your fertility, but it does not suggest that it will only take two months each time.

In terms of halacha, in order to minimize any effect, the major step to take is to ask questions about attempted hefsek taharah and bedikot in order to make sure you are not extending your time in niddah unnecessarily. Even a hefsek taharah need not be completely clear. In addition to the above, you may also find it helpful to consult a Yoetzet Halacha Fertility Counselor. (This is a free service, details here.)

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