Nishmat's Women’s Health and HalachaIn memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

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Lubricant on bedikah cloth

31 August, 2017

Question:

Am I allowed to put anything on the bedikah cloth to make it more comfortable? Like lubricant or almond oil?


Answer:

There is a concern that a lubricant might block absorption of blood onto the cloth, so the permissibility of moistening a cloth with lubricant is debated.  Slightly wetting a bedikah cloth with water, however, is widely accepted.

We recommend moistening the cloth with a drop of water and going very gently.

Using a vaginal moisturizer ahead of time may also prove helpful, as might trying to launder cloths prior to use, which can soften them.  

There are those who permit a drop of lubricant, as long as the woman waits long enough for it to be absorbed enough into the fabric so that it will not make the finger moist from the touch. So if the above steps do not suffice, you may use a drop of lubricant, preferably one that is water based.

Please write back with any further questions.


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