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

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Hysterosalpingogram, day 7 of shivah neki’im

7 March, 2018
Question:

I am scheduled for a procedure on day 7 of my Shiva Nekiim. In Hebrew it's called "Zilum Rechem" (I live in Israel) – I'm not entirely sure if that's the same as a hysteroscopy? The procedure will be performed for 2 reasons – first, to check if there is anything that may prevent me from getting pregnant; second, to potentially remove an ovarian cyst which my doctor saw on the ultrasound (in case the hormones he prescribed didn't remove the cyst).

I have the following questions:

1) According to what I read in other Q&As (about hysteroscopy – not sure this applies to me) and in the hysteroscopy article on your site, this procedure does not render me Nidda, even if there is bleeding after. Is this also true if my doctor ends up removing the cyst? Can I really just disregard any blood? For how many days?

2) I am planning on doing the day 7 Bedika in the morning before the procedure and then switching to black underwear⁄black pantyliners. Is this OK?

3) Is it OK to go to the Mikve so soon after the procedure? (Procedure is scheduled for Friday morning, Mikve Friday night)

4) If it is OK to immerse, what about relations? (I of course plan on asking my doctor as well) Is it advisable to refrain from relations after the hysteroscopy and if yes, for how long?


Answer:

A tzilum rechem is known in English as a hysterosalpingogram.  However, doctors do sometimes perform hysteroscopy for the purposes that you mention.

1) In either case, bleeding can be attributed to the procedure and does not render you niddah.  Blood can be disregarded for a couple of days following the procedure.  Following that point, we recommend wearing colored undergarments and taking precautions regarding stains, so as to rule out any possible questions from arising. (For more information on stains, please see our articles "Stains" and "Toilet Paper".)

2) Yes, you should perform your bedikah in the morning before the procedure and use pantiliners/colored underwear afterwords.

3) Mikveh immersion after the procedure should not present a halachic or medical issue.

4) Both halachically and medically, you should resume relations when you feel comfortable doing so.  You may find yourself sore after the procedure. Even if delaying relations, you may immerse for the purposes of other types of physical closeness, so long as you and your husband are careful about hotza'at zera levatalah, spilling of seed.

We wish you a smooth and successful procedure!

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