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

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Postpartum appointment during neki’im

28 May, 2006
Question:

I am 44 years old and gave birth 5.5 weeks ago to a baby boy (our fifth child). I started counting 7 clean days tonight. I have an appt. at the gynecologist next week (the day I should be going to the mikveh). I assume she will do a regular gynecological exam. Will this make me nidda and will I have to start counting 7 clean days again?

Also—I would like to use some form of birth control. I have multiple fibroids and had been using estrafem and hexacapron to minimize bleeding. Birth control pills would have the same effect. Can I use birth control pills? I am nursing full time.

thank you


Answer:

Mazal tov on the birth of your son!

A regular gynecological exam does not usually render a woman niddah, since only uterine bleeding renders a woman niddah.  However, since non-uterine bleeding can result from an examination, be sure to ask your physician if anything she is doing might cause bleeding, why, and from where.  See our article on speculum and manual exams for more information.

Even bleeding that does not render you niddah can complicate the clean days, when you wear whites and perform bedikot.  To simplify matters, you might consider delaying your appointment until the day after mikveh immersion.  If you do not change the date, just be sure to perform your bedikah (if possible, both of them) prior to the appointment.  If the appointment is before the late afternoon, then you may omit your second bedikah.  Even if there is any staining prior to mikveh, if it is consistent with the doctor’s explanation, then you may immerse.

With regards to contraception, it is best to consult with a rabbi with whom you have a personal relationship.  If you would like a ruling from our site’s rabbi, Rav Yehuda Henkin, please write back with details about your children and their ages and any other information you think should be relevant.

In choosing what method of birth control to pursue, you would consult your physician for the best medical options and then get back to the rabbi who granted you the ruling.

This internet service does not preclude, override or replace the psak of any rabbinical authority. It is the responsibility of the questioner to inform us of any previous consultation or ruling. As even slight variation in circumstances may have Halachic consequences, views expressed concerning one case may not be applied to other, seemingly similar cases. All health and health-related information contained within Nishmat's Women's Health & Halacha Web site is intended to be general in nature and should not be used as a substitute for consulting with your health care professional. The advice is intended to offer a basis for individuals to discuss their medical condition with their health care provider but not individual advice. Although every effort is made to ensure that the material within Nishmat's Women's Health & Halacha Web site is accurate and timely, it is provided for the convenience of the Web site user but should not be considered official. Advice for actual medical practice should be obtained from a licensed health care professional. For further questions or comments:  The Nishmat Women's Health and Halacha Site is a public service of Nishmat, The Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Advanced Torah Study for Women. This project and others like it are made possible by contributions from people like you. If you have benefited from the service, and wish to enable us to help others, click here to donate.
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