Blood found after relations, before onot perishah
16 November, 2016
Question:My period is not regular. The cycle has ranged from 25 days to 32 days. I do my bedikot on the onah beinonit, yom hachodesh, and the haflagah.
This month, my husband and I had relations on the 27th night, before I had the chance to observe any onot. Stains of brown discharge were found on my husband immediately after relations, and also on white tissue when I was cleaning up. My period (a full flow) began three hours later. Is this a halachic problem?
Answer:When blood is found on the husband's organ after relations, the woman is rendered niddah.
Since your flow began three hours later, you may attribute the blood found after relations to your period. There is no concern that relations cause you to bleed, and you do not have to perform a special series of bedikot the next time you have relations.
A woman is fully permitted to engage in relations when she is tehorah and is not observing an onah. However, if your cycle is very irregular, as you approach the point where you may get your period and are concerned about this situation repeating itself in the future, you may wish to check for bleeding before engaging in relations. You should wipe externally with a tissue (not after urinating) to check for any staining. If the tissue is clear, go ahead with relations. If there is staining, you are not rendered niddah from the stain but we do advise abstaining from relations for about 24 hours so your status may be fully clarified.
Additionally, you should not look for any blood after relations. Wait a few minutes before getting up and cleaning yourselves. Be sure to use colored towels or tissues to wipe yourselves and don't look! Make sure your bed linens are colored as well.
Please feel free to get back to us with any further questions.
B'hatzlacha!
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