Pap smear cervical bleeding - Nishmat Yoatzot Halacha

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Pap smear cervical bleeding

October 28, 2003

Question

You write about Pap Smears:

"The scraping may cause mild bleeding. However, since this bleeding is caused by a confirmed trauma to the cervix, most authorities agree that a Pap smear does not render a woman niddah."

My doctor says he cannot be absolutely certain that the brush did not enter the inner (or upper?) cervix but he is certain that it did not enter the uterus.

Is it possible that I am a nidda? Or is any cervical bleeding not considered a nidda?

Thank you in advance.

Answer

The lower part of the uterus, called the cervix (neck), has two openings. One, the internal os (mouth) is the opening from the body of the uterus to the cervix. The second, the external os, is the opening of the cervix into the vaginal canal.

According to most opinions, only the internal os is relevant for determining whether you are a niddah. No swab or cytobrush gets far enough to open that os. Even if it did, it is smaller than the minimum size which could render you niddah due to opening of the uterus. Additionally, the bleeding from the Pap smear is clearly from a wound, which would not cause niddah.

Thus, according to almost all opinions, a Pap smear would not make you niddah.