Question:
1. Let’s say a woman has an irregular period, and gets her period once every 1.5-2 months or more, when is the time of separation before her “period” suppose to apply ?
2. If such a woman feels droplets of blood during that length of time with no apparent hargasha, what is she considered?
Is she to wait and see If the blood keeps dripping for a few days and be determined a niddah, or can she assume that it was a petza etc. ?
What should be the general conduct in regards to such irregular periods?
Answer:
- A woman that has her periods irregular at such a length according to most poskim (see sources) has the same halachos as if she would get her period between days 28 33. However since there are some poskim ( Igros Moshe Y:D 2-72, 3-46, Otzros Tahara in the name of R’ S. Z. Auerbach zt”l pg. 990) that say that she wouldn’t keep onah benonis, therefore she should keep the basics, meaning day 30 and Yom Hachodesh, but not day 31 (unless it is Yom Hachodesh, and only for that time of the day, and not the whole 24hr period). Additionally she should keep the hafalgos regularly. Meaning if the last haflaga was 48, she should keep day 48 etc.
- It depends where the blood is felt, and when it is felt. This is something that should be discussed with her personal Rov.
Best wishes
Sources:
Chavas Daas 186 -Biurim 2, Shoel Umeishiv Third edition 2-46, Aruch Hashulchan 186- 20, Livushei Mordechai 1 Y;D 109, Chelkas Yaakov 2-72, Minchas Yitzchok 6-82, Be’er Moshe 1-47, Pischei Halacha chap. 14 ftnt. 44 in the name of R’ Y. Kaminetzky zt”l, Divrei Yatziv Y:D 75, Ashrei Hoish Y:D 24-8, Shevet Halevi 3-120, Mareh Cohen pg. 139, Chut Shani 186-4 (5), Levushei Oz (R’ Ezriel Auerbach) 164- tamtzis 4, R’ Yitzchok Berkowitz quoted in Zera Shemuel 186 ftnt. 113, Ma’adeni Osher ( Nidda) 16.
