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

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Douching

29 March, 2005

Question:

Hi! Thanks again for your wonderful service!

I just got married two weeks ago, and started counting my seven clean days already. For some reason on my second clean day, I used a douche, and it caused some blood to come out, and it rendered me a niddah, and I had to start counting all over again. I thought a douche is a good thing to use. Do you have any suggestions?!


Answer:

Mazal tov on your marriage.

In general, there is no medical indication for routine douching. Bathing and showering are sufficient for maintaining hygiene. The fluid in the douche could change the natural balance of secretions in the vaginal canal, which generally is not desirable. Furthermore, the douche apparatus can irritate the vaginal lining. Therefore, the best advice is simply not to continue douching. If there is a particular reason that douching is recommended for you by a medical professional, then be careful on how you insert, use lubrication and do in a relaxed and gentle manner.

You should avoid douching during the shivah neki'im.


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