In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R’ Avraham

In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

Hysterosalpingogram in clean days
May 17, 2013

Question

I have been having difficulty conceiving and am having a hysterosalpingogram done next month during my 7 clean days. There is a possibility of slight bleeding as a result of the procedure. I am worried about becoming niddah as a result of the test and missing my ovulation window. Is there anything that I can do to avoid that (such as wearing dark underwear after the procedure or skipping bedikot)?

Answer

We are sorry to hear of your difficulty conceiving.

For procedures that enter the uterus, the size of the instrument that enters is halachically significant. Instruments larger than a certain size render a woman niddah even if there is no bleeding. Opinions as to this size vary. Our site's rabbinic supervisor rules that an instrument with a diameter of less than 19 mm does not make a woman niddah. Since a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) uses a narrower instrument, the procedure itself does not make a woman niddah or invalidate her clean days.

Following the procedure, there may be some brown discharge (from the dye) or even some bleeding (which is usually dam makkah from cervical trauma).  Staining from the procedure that you find externally may be attributed to dam makkah and disregarded (you also may wear a pantiliner or colored underwear until the staining ceases). However, bedikot of the shivah neki'im may be somewhat complicated.

You should perform bedikot as usual up to and including the morning of the procedure. Following the procedure, you may omit bedikot until any bleeding subsides, taking care to perform a bedikah on day seven. (If the procedure is planned for day seven, you should perform your morning bedikah prior to the procedure and then omit the afternoon bedikah.)

If you attempt a day seven bedikah within the window when bleeding from the procedure is expected, we recommend gently washing the vaginal area first, to help obtain a valid bedikah, and performing a shallower bedikah, so as not to touch the sensitive cervix. If you find blood on the bedikah cloth, then you may attribute the blood to dam makkah, and the bedikah does not invalidate the seven clean days. In this case, you can attempt another bedikah on the following day. As long as five days do not pass without a bedikah, the clean days remain valid. For example, bedikot on days one through five, followed by a final bedikah on day nine, would be considered a valid set of seven clean days. Mikveh immersion would then follow day nine.

If it seems like delaying your final bedikah and immersion would cause you to miss your ovulation window, please ask a specific halachic question about how to proceed.

You may also find it helpful to consult a Yoetzet Halacha Fertility Counselor. (This is a free service, details here.)

Please feel free to get back to us with any further questions.

We wish you much hatzlacha!

This response was updated on 21 December, 2025.
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