Pads or tampons in clean days, tampon as moch on Shabbat

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December 24, 2015

Question

I can generally get a clean hefsek on day five, but I’m always concerned that I will start bleeding again, which does happen on occasion. Besides not particularly wanting to stain my underwear, it might be heavier than just light spotting, and I would really prefer to keep using some form of protection.
I have read your answers, which seemed to indicate that you weren’t particularly keen on sanitary pads during ‘white days’, but what then can I use? Sometimes tampons are an option, but sometimes I’m too irritated, especially after a hefsek. (Are they any better anyway?)

Also, since I often do continue to use protection for a day or two after my period seems to have stopped, if I used a tampon as the moch dachuk on Shabbat, would it be carrying?

Answer

In light of your concerns, you may use white pantiliners during the clean days. If you could purchase cloth, reusable ones, that would be preferred. A tampon should not be used, since even a drop of blood on a tampon could invalidate the clean days, and also due to the concerns of irritation that you note.

A moch dachuk is placed so that a woman can clearly establish that her bleeding has ceased. A side concern that bleeding might resume does not override its main purpose. So using a tampon for a moch would be considered carrying on Shabbat according to many authorities, even if you are also using the tampon for protection because of the possibility of renewed bleeding.

Please write back with any further questions.

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