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

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Prolonged staining and abstaining

14 April, 2013

Question:

I have had Mirena for about 6 weeks. I bH was able to go to the Mikvah. For the past week I have been feeling wetness in my black underpants. I do not need a pad, there is not a flow, but definitely moisture enough for me to feel when I am slightly wet.

Your site recommends abstaining for 24 hours. My question is really that each day now for about 6 days I have either suspected some spotting or felt moisture in my underpants and on my skin. I have been careful not to look at toilet paper, but while doing laundry once I did see what looked red on the black underwear and so I am assuming that the moisture I am feeling has all been spotting.

If I abstain I would not be having relations all this week. As you say, the reason for abstaining is to wait and see what will come about.

So, can I continue to ignore and be careful not to look, and even after relations not look at any tissues, or should we abstain until I feel dry?


Answer:

We do recommend abstaining for twenty-four hours when a woman has staining that does not make her niddah.  We are careful to note that this is a recommendation, not a strict halachic requirement.

In cases such as yours, where non-niddah staining is prolonged, abstaining could extend for a very long time.  Staining during the adjustment to Mirena can take months to resolve.  Thus, in your case, you could have relations – being careful not to look for stains. Use colored sheets, and wipe yourselves with colored towels, or with tissues that you do not look at. You may also try to time relations for when you seem to have less incidence of the wetness you describe.


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