White underwear post menopause - Nishmat Yoatzot Halacha

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White underwear post menopause

December 9, 2015

Question

I have recently lost several kilos, following my doctor's advice. I am also about to end a year of aveilut (which only partly coincidentally began almost exactly at the time of the health advice). I decided not to buy even permitted garments and undergarments because my whole body was changing. I am 57, and it has been two years since I have had any niddah–related staining.

I have been told that post–menopausal women should continue to wear colored underpants, but I greatly prefer white ones.

Now that my life and my weight have stabilized, I plan to buy very nice undergarments to replace the ones that do not fit well––Is there ever a time that it is not foolish to wear white ones?

Thank you for your patience and understanding, as well as your help in the past and present:

Answer

We appreciate the importance to you at this juncture of purchasing the garments that you prefer.

Even when a woman is menopausal, uterine bleeding can make her niddah. Wearing colored undergarments is a halachic measure which prevents stains from making a woman niddah. (Please see our site's articles "Stains" and "Toilet Paper" for more details about staining.)

If you are prepared to take the risk of becoming niddah should you have staining, then there is no reason not to wear white undergarments. If pastels might suit you, that could be a good compromise, since most halachic authorities consider pastel undergarments to be colored undergarments.

Please write back with any further questions.

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