Difficulty obtaining ‘clean’ hefsek
22 February, 2004
Question:Thank you for a wonderful and informative website.
I seem to run into this situation each month. I have to try 2-3 days after my period ends before completing an acceptable Hefsek Taharah making it at least 7-8 days, instead of the minimum 5 days. Are there any suggestions you can offer to reduce that time?
Thanks again,
Answer:In order to obtain a clean hefsek, it is helpful to wash the vaginal area and even bathe (a douche, assuming your doctor does not object, can also serve this purpose). You should try to clean internally with a damp bedikah cloth to remove any leftover discharge, which may hinder you from obtaining a clean hefsek.
You may also attempt more than one hefsek a day. Leave enough time before shekiah to try a few times, allowing about ten minutes between internal checks, to lower the risk of irritation. You may find that you are able to obtain a clean hefsek before shekiah. However, trying more than three or four times can increase the risk of irritation and is not that likely to be successful.
Finally, take the hefsek to a rabbi to evaluate the color. Many women mistakenly believe that the hefsek must be completely clean. In fact, the bedikah may have some discharge on it – not all colors invalidate the hefsek. However, only someone trained in colors is qualified to evaluate the bedikah.
This internet service does not preclude, override or replace the psak of any rabbinical authority. It is the responsibility of the questioner to inform us of any previous consultation or ruling. As even slight variation in circumstances may have Halachic consequences, views expressed concerning one case may not be applied to other, seemingly similar cases. All health and health-related information contained within Nishmat's Women's Health & Halacha Web site is intended to be general in nature and should not be used as a substitute for consulting with your health care professional. The advice is intended to offer a basis for individuals to discuss their medical condition with their health care provider but not individual advice. Although every effort is made to ensure that the material within Nishmat's Women's Health & Halacha Web site is accurate and timely, it is provided for the convenience of the Web site user but should not be considered official. Advice for actual medical practice should be obtained from a licensed health care professional.
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