Veset with fertility treatments
22 October, 2014
Question:Ever since I was 19 years old, I have suffered from hypogonadatropic hypogonadism – absent menses. So I do not have any natural period.
Through the amazing kindness of Hashem, I married a wonderful man who was accepting of this condition. We have gone on to experience the miracle of parenthood through IVF.
My question is: how am I affected by fertility treatments? I am going through another round of IVF, and in doing so, I have to take pills which will make me get a period (which my body can do on these pills, just not without them). How long do I have to wait to have relations with my husband after I take the pills? It says that I can see bleeding 1– 4 days after cessation.
Also, if I go through consecutive rounds of treatment during which I take these pills, do I set some kind of onot?
For years, I have not dealt with the issue of onot and vestot, and there is pretty much no information out there for people like me.
Answer:We appreciate the sensitive nature of this question, and we are inspired by your story and gratitude to God.
Uterine bleeding brought on by pills is subject to the laws of niddah. For the first round of pills, you should be conservative, and observe a veset (abstaining from relations and performing a bedikah) from the first through the fourth day after stopping the pills.
For subsequent rounds of treatment, you will begin observing a veset based on the earliest you have begun bleeding after stopping pills in the three most recent prior rounds. (For example, if the first time you bleed only from the second day, that is the onah you will observe the second round. Even if on the second round you bleed only from the third day, you will still observe the second day on the third round.)
No additional onot need be observed.
Please write back with any further questions. As you navigate treatment, you may also find it helpful to arrange a free consultation with a Yoetzet Halacha Fertility Counselor, details here. We wish you much success with your treatments!
This response was updated on 23 May, 2021.
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