A woman who suspects that she ovulates before she can immerse in the mikveh should consult with a halachic authority to make sure that she is immersing at the earliest opportunity. A range of halachic and medical approaches can treat confirmed cases of ovulation before immersion.

In general, women ovulate anywhere from twelve to sixteen days prior to their next menses. A woman’s best chance to conceive from relations is from three days prior to ovulation to within one day afterwards.

If, on a consistent basis, marital relations are prohibited within the window around ovulation during which conception is possible, pregnancy will not occur. The wife will not conceive even though the couple might not have a fertility problem from a purely medical perspective. This situation is sometimes called halachic or religious infertility, since it is unique to couples who observe the halachot of niddah.

Women with shorter cycles, or who spend longer times in niddah, have a higher chance of ovulating prior to mikveh immersion. As women get older, often in the mid-thirties, their cycle lengths tend to shorten. Ovulation before immersion is thus more common in older women, and may develop in those who previously had no problems conceiving.

Diagnosis