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

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Gynecological exam on day of mikveh

24 July, 2014
Question:

I have a routine gynecological exam set for the same day that I need to go to the mikvah. Obviously, I will need to wear white underwear and do a bedikah. It’s my understanding that the exam should not render me a niddah – but what happens if I see blood? Can I go to the mikvah assuming that it was from the exam, and not uterine? Or am I a niddah and then have to wait another seven days? Thanks so much.


Answer:

Bleeding resulting from a standard gynecological exam typically does not make a woman niddah or invalidate her clean days.  Even so, we recommend taking measures to prevent a halachic question from arising.

In this case, be sure to perform your morning bedikah of the seventh day before your doctor’s appointment.  In order to head off questions, you may also switch to colored undergarments after that morning bedikah.

If the appointment is scheduled for the afternoon, you should perform your second bedikah before the appointment as well.  If the appointment is scheduled for earlier in the day, you may in this case omit your second bedikah.

Please write back with any further questions.

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