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

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Brown and pink

10 February, 2012
Question:

I am 47 and might be pre-menopausal. I asked my doctor if brown or a pale pink is a period. She said it's from the uterus but not a period and that these irregularities are related to pre menopause. Do these colors make me a niddah? It was only for a couple of days and the very pale pink was just once or twice.


Answer:

It is unclear from your description whether you are experiencing an actual flow of blood (comparable to a period) or only staining (less than a flow). If you are experiencing a flow of blood that is brown or pink you are rendered niddah. If you only experience staining, you may take precautions against becoming niddah from this staining by wearing colored underwear and waiting 15 seconds after urinating before wiping. We also recommend abstaining from intercourse until 24 hours after the staining subsides.

In general, pale pink and certain shades of brown are colors that will render a woman niddah. Thus if you find a stain larger than a gris (the size of a US dime or Israeli shekel) on a white garment or on your skin, it may render you niddah, and should be brought to a rabbi for evaluation. Likewise, pink or brown stains of any size found on an internal bedikah may be problematic and should be brought to a rabbi for examination.

We recommend you read our section on stains for more information.

Please feel free to get back to us with any further questions.

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