Reproductive concepts and practices among observant Orthodox Jews may Lead to Halachic subfertility in a significant portion of couples. According to Halachah [the Jewish code of law) sexual activity may not take place during the time a woman menstruates (Niddah) as well as for a full week thereafter (7 days of cleanliness). Coitus is allowed to resume after the woman has immersed herself in a ritual bath (mikvah). In the case of unexpected spotting or bleeding (Zavah), the woman should consult a rabbi and a doctor to determine the origin of the blood. Uterine bleeding entails that intercourse is forbidden for a minimum of 5 initial days plus 7 days thereafter. In practice, any minute bleeding or spotting, regardless of timing during the menstrual cycle, renders the woman ritually impure and invokes the stringencies of Niddah rulings. Even a physiologic occurrence such as midcycle ovulatory bleeding or spotting renders the woman Zavah and prohibits sexual intercourse at the optimal time for conception. The inability to conceive in this halachically mandated time period is not due to a biologic fault but rather to social, cultural and religious norms as defined by the rabbinate. Medically lengthening the pre-ovulatory phase is a common practice, as shortening the count of days of ritual impurity is often seen as nonnegotiable. Ethical issues concerning the role of the physician and the safety of such treatments are discussed.
Abstract
English Abstract
Historical Article
Journal Article
heb
19630353
Haimov-Kochman, Ronit, and Arye Hurwitz. "[Religious (Halachic) Infertility]." Harefuah, vol. 148, no. 4, 2009, pp. 271-4.
Haimov-Kochman R, Hurwitz A. [Religious (Halachic) infertility]. Harefuah. 2009;148(4):271-4.
Haimov-Kochman, R., & Hurwitz, A. (2009). [Religious (Halachic) infertility]. Harefuah, 148(4), 271-4.
Haimov-Kochman R, Hurwitz A. [Religious (Halachic) Infertility]. Harefuah. 2009;148(4):271-4. PubMed PMID: 19630353.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR
T1 - [Religious (Halachic) infertility].
AU - Haimov-Kochman,Ronit,
AU - Hurwitz,Arye,
PY - 2009/7/28/entrez
PY - 2009/7/28/pubmed
PY - 2009/9/26/medline
SP - 271
EP - 4
JF - Harefuah
JO - Harefuah
VL - 148
IS - 4
N2 - Reproductive concepts and practices among observant Orthodox Jews may Lead to Halachic subfertility in a significant portion of couples. According to Halachah [the Jewish code of law) sexual activity may not take place during the time a woman menstruates (Niddah) as well as for a full week thereafter (7 days of cleanliness). Coitus is allowed to resume after the woman has immersed herself in a ritual bath (mikvah). In the case of unexpected spotting or bleeding (Zavah), the woman should consult a rabbi and a doctor to determine the origin of the blood. Uterine bleeding entails that intercourse is forbidden for a minimum of 5 initial days plus 7 days thereafter. In practice, any minute bleeding or spotting, regardless of timing during the menstrual cycle, renders the woman ritually impure and invokes the stringencies of Niddah rulings. Even a physiologic occurrence such as midcycle ovulatory bleeding or spotting renders the woman Zavah and prohibits sexual intercourse at the optimal time for conception. The inability to conceive in this halachically mandated time period is not due to a biologic fault but rather to social, cultural and religious norms as defined by the rabbinate. Medically lengthening the pre-ovulatory phase is a common practice, as shortening the count of days of ritual impurity is often seen as nonnegotiable. Ethical issues concerning the role of the physician and the safety of such treatments are discussed.
SN - 0017-7768
UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/prime/citation/19630353/[Religious_(Halachic)_infertility].
L2 - http://www.diseaseinfosearch.org/result/9713
DB - PRIME
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
