It’s a bit complicated, since every woman’s cycle is different, but I’ll try to be as general as possible. Keep in mind that these laws apply to married couples – premarital and extramarital sex is prohibited.
Husbands and wives are not allowed to engage in sexual activity from the day that a woman starts her monthly cycle until seven "clean" (no spotting) days after the last day of her period. This can be anywhere from 12-14 days. After that time, the wife goes to the mikvah (ritual bath) and the couple can resume relations. So long as there is no more bleeding/spotting, the couple can continue sexual relations until the wife begins bleeding again. If the woman is pregnant, postmenopausal, or does not get periods, then sexual relations are allowed throughout. After childbirth the couple also need to stop relations until a full week after all bleeding stops – generally speaking this is not an issue because the Obstetrical community recommends waiting for 6 weeks before resuming relations, which is usually well past the point that bleeding stops.
If you’re actually planning to practice this, it’s a bit more complicated than this, especially for women with irregular cycles. It would take way more space than Yahoo gives you to go into all the different issues that can occur which could cause a longer or shorter wait. For more detailed information about how the taharat hamishpacha (family purity) laws work, go here: http://www.yoatzot.org/index.php
September 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
It’s a bit complicated, since every woman’s cycle is different, but I’ll try to be as general as possible. Keep in mind that these laws apply to married couples – premarital and extramarital sex is prohibited.
Husbands and wives are not allowed to engage in sexual activity from the day that a woman starts her monthly cycle until seven "clean" (no spotting) days after the last day of her period. This can be anywhere from 12-14 days. After that time, the wife goes to the mikvah (ritual bath) and the couple can resume relations. So long as there is no more bleeding/spotting, the couple can continue sexual relations until the wife begins bleeding again. If the woman is pregnant, postmenopausal, or does not get periods, then sexual relations are allowed throughout. After childbirth the couple also need to stop relations until a full week after all bleeding stops – generally speaking this is not an issue because the Obstetrical community recommends waiting for 6 weeks before resuming relations, which is usually well past the point that bleeding stops.
If you’re actually planning to practice this, it’s a bit more complicated than this, especially for women with irregular cycles. It would take way more space than Yahoo gives you to go into all the different issues that can occur which could cause a longer or shorter wait. For more detailed information about how the taharat hamishpacha (family purity) laws work, go here: http://www.yoatzot.org/index.php
September 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
there’s no hell in Judaism, so who cares?
September 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Once they hit puberty and are married.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Michelle gave you an excellent answer, as always.
You might understand now why observant Jews have so many children!