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

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Spotting after mikveh, before relations

16 November, 2016
Question:

I just had some significant spotting this morning. I went to the mikvah last night, but we did not have relations yet. When can I start counting the clean days again?


Answer:

Not all spotting makes a woman niddah.  Your first step is to contact us (for a quicker response, you could try our hotline) or a local halachic authority in order to clarify your status.  For more information on staining, please see our articles on stains and toilet paper.

If the staining did not make you niddah, then a new set of clean days is not necessary.  We advise abstaining from relations for twenty-four hours in such instances, as a precaution against a flow beginning during relations.  But relations would be technically permissible even within that day.

The five day wait prior to counting clean days applies when the couple has been permitted to have relations, even if they have not yet availed themselves of that opportunity.  Therefore, if the staining did make you niddah, then you should observe a new five day wait, followed by a new set of clean days.  The day of staining is day one and the hefsek taharah is planned for day five. A possible exception would be if your husband was out of town.  If this was the case, or if there was some other extenuating circumstance, please get back to us.

You may wish to consult your physician about the spotting, especially if it continues.

Please write back with any further questions.

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