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

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Bleeding from cervix

26 February, 2005

Question:

I have been struggling with mid-cycle bleeding for about a year and a half. After a D&C, as well as the testing and cauterization of two cervical lesions, my doctor says I have a "friable cervix". My understanding is that this means that my cervix bleeds easily.  I have been wearing very dark underwear, and have been trying hard not to look at toilet paper, but am still sure there is bleeding there. My question is, if I am still sure that there is blood, but I am covering it up in this way, is that really OK? I feel very strange about the whole thing, even though I know it's halachically not a problem on colored cloth, or on toilet paper that I haven't examined.
Thank you so much for this service. I have been asking my Rav shailos, but this is so much less embarrassing!


Answer:

You have an explanation for the bleeding that you are experiencing.  Halachically, we attribute the bleeding at times other than your period to your friable cervix.  (The bleeding is presumably from the outside of the cervix, and thus not considered uterine.)  Therefore, you are doing nothing wrong by ignoring this – see our articles on ketamim and dam makkah for further explanation.

If you have bleeding at a time that you have a hargashah (see our article on hargashah) or at the time you expect your period, then you will become niddah.

Also, you should perform bedikot gently (and not too deeply, with the exception of the hefsek taharah and one bedikah on the first day) in order to avoid problems with bedikot irritating your cervix.


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