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

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Pap smear after menopause

11 November, 2015

Question:

It has been several years since I’ve had a pap smear. I am 56, and it has been almost two years since I have had any menstrual bleeding. Is there anything to be especially aware of regarding the possibility of nidda after a pap smear, now that I am postmenopausal?


Answer:

A standard gynecological exam including a Pap smear should not make you niddah.  If you see a little staining or blood the day of or following the exam, it may be totally disregarded.

If your physician performs a non-standard procedure, please clarify what it is called, what size instrument was used, and whether the physician observed a lesion or trauma caused during the procedure.

In order to avoid unnecessary questions about stains, we recommend that you wear colored undergarments and pause at least a few seconds between urinating and wiping with toilet paper. (For more information, please see our pages on “Stains” and “Toilet paper.”)

Please write back with any further questions.

This response was updated on 4 February, 2024.


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