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

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Bleeding after speculum exam

2 February, 2009

Question:

I bled a small amount after a gynecological exam involving a speculum. I saw a drop on my underwear and light red on toilet paper. Am I a niddah?


Answer:

A speculum exam may cause bleeding from the vaginal walls.  Such bleeding does not make a woman niddah.  Since the bleeding you report is consistent with bleeding from a speculum exam, you may attribute it to the exam and you are not considered to be in niddah.

(It is not entirely clear from your question whether the stains you saw would have been sufficient to render you niddah in any case. A stain on underwear will make you niddah only if it is larger than a gris – about the size of a US dime or an Israeli shekel – and the underwear is white. The status of stains on toilet paper is subject to halachic debate, and may depend on the particular circumstances. For more information on these laws, please see our articles on Stains and Toilet Paper.)

If your physician saw blood leaving the cervix, if you are expecting your period, if you had any heavier bleeding, or if bleeding persists for a few days after the exam, please get back to us or a halachic authority with more details.


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.

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