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

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Toilet paper & bedikot in clean days

23 May, 2005
Question:

I am very confused about when to look at the toilet paper. Should I be looking every time during the clean days? What happens if I am not at home and the toilet paper is not white?
I also want to know what to do if I see a brown/pink stain a couple of days after my period as sometimes happens. (I wear panty liners) This month I did a bedika straight away which also had a very small amount of brown/ pink on it and then I counted that as the first day of niddah, which means that I might get my period before I go to the mikva. I didn't see anything else after that at all.


Answer:

There is never a requirement to look at toilet paper.  Even during the clean days, it is often preferable not to look.  A woman monitors her status during the clean days through bedikot and white undergarments, not through toilet paper.

We are not sure that we understood your second question.  However, a stain, at any time of the month, does not obligate you to perform a bedikah.  Generally, performing bedikot is not recommended aside from the requisite bedikot of the seven clean days and onot perishah. 

Not all stains render a woman a niddah.  The size, color, and surface on which a stain is found may all be grounds for leniency.  Please see our articles on ketamim and feminine hygiene pads for further details. 

In the event that a stain found during the seven clean days does invalidate her clean days, a woman does not require a new five-day minimum. She may perform a new hefsek taharah as early as that same day!  She then begins a new count of seven clean days from the following day.

We hope this clears up your confusion.  Please write back with any further questions.

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