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

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Vulvar abscess

8 November, 2015

Question:

I am about 7 weeks pregnant now b"h and this past week I had a vulvar abscess which had to be drained with incision and drainage with a small syringe. There was blood and pus in the abscess, and although it was completely external to the vaginal canal, there might have been some blood that got into the vaginal area after the abscess was draining. The draining area still bled for a couple of days afterwards, but it was most likely from the incision site at the bottom of the vulva which was close to the opening of the vaginal canal. I wanted to make sure that this does not make me niddah since there wasn't bleeding from the vaginal canal or uterus as far as I know. but from the abscess site which was external to the vagina. If it does make one niddah what is the procedure for counting days during pregnancy? Thank you so much.


Answer:

Besha'ah tovah!

Bleeding attributable to a vulvar abscess such as you describe does not make you niddah. Especially if your physician can confirm your evaluation, no further halachic steps are necessary.

A pregnant woman can become niddah from uterine bleeding, with the usual procedure for becoming tehorahStaining is fairly common during pregnancy.  For that reason, pregnant women should continue to take niddah-related precautions such as wearing colored underwear, having relations on colored sheets, etc.

We wish you a refuah sheleimah!


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