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Light spotting after Mirena insertion

3 February, 2016

Question:

I just had the Mirena IUD inserted this morning. I am 8 months postpartum and breastfeeding and still have not gotten my period.

There was no visible bleeding at the time of the insertion, as well as no blood noticed when I went to the bathroom 1 hour later.

4-5 hours later I noticed some light spotting on my coloured underpants, as well as on the toilet paper and in the toilet bowl.
I read through several articles on this invaluable website but I understand I cannot draw conclusions based on responses given to others. I currently do not have a Rabbi to consult with on this matter and I am seeking Halachic advice.

Does this IUD insertion render me Niddah?

Does the spotting I saw render me Niddah? (light reddish brown, very mucusy)

How should I deal with future spotting? Should I make an effort not to look at my underwear/ toilet paper/ bowl?
(I do not understand how if a particular spot I see would render me Niddah, would be okay so long as I did not see it.)
If I am a Niddah now, when should I perform the Hefsek?

With immense appreciation.


Answer:

Mazal tov on the recent birth of your baby!

1) The insertion of an IUD does not in itself render a woman niddah.

2) Bleeding that occurs during the day following the insertion can generally be attributed to trauma (and thus does not render you niddah). Please see our page on the IUD for more details.

3) Stains found on colored underwear or disposable pantyliners, or in the toilet bowl, may be disregarded. Stains found on the toilet paper may be disregarded as long as you waited at least a few seconds after urinating before wiping.

You should take precautions against becoming niddah from further staining by continuing to wear colored underwear or disposable pantyliners, and waiting at least a few seconds (ideally 15 seconds) after urinating before wiping. While there is no requirement to look for staining, some women like to know what is going on with their bodies. As long as you take the above precautions, any stain you may find on the colored underwear/pantyliner/toilet paper/toilet may be disregarded and will not render you niddah. (We do recommend abstaining from marital relations until about 24 hours after staining stops; this is a voluntary precaution, not a halachic requirement.) If you experience an actual flow (comparable to a period) then you are rendered niddah regardless of where the blood is found.

4) According to Torah law, only bleeding accompanied by a hargashah will render a woman niddah. (A flow is presumed to have been accompanied by a hargashah.) The Sages decreed that even stains unaccompanied by a hargashah can render a woman niddah. However, in order not to overly burden women, they limited the scope of this decree and only stains of a certain size and on certain surfaces will render one niddah. Further, as long as a woman does not feel a hargashah, she is not required to look for any staining.

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

This response has been updated to reflect the rulings of our current Rabbinic Supervisor, Rav Kenneth Auman, regarding waiting before wiping.


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