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

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Immersion with yeast infection

13 June, 2004

Question:

I am supposed to go to the mikveh this Tuesday night. However, I have just developed a yeast infection. I am concerned about two things. First, I am not sure about immersing in the mikveh with the infection, both for my own health, and for the health of others using the mikveh. Second, vaginal intercourse is contraindicated for those with yeast infections, so I would not be able to have sex with my husband that night. Should I delay immersion by one or two nights? If I do, am I correct that I would need to continue doing bedikot on every day until I do immerse? Thank you!


Answer:

Yeast is present on everyone’s body. What generally causes infection is the overgrowth of the yeast on the body. If you are concerned, you can ask to be the last to immerse that night. At the end of the shift the water is either re-chlorinated or has time to be well filtered by the next day.

Mikveh immersion is allowed even if the couple cannot have intercourse that night. It at least permits other forms of physical closeness and allows them to stop keeping the harchakot.

If mikveh immersion is slightly delayed, then once the seven clean days are complete, there is no obligation to continue to do bedikot until mikveh immersion. [The bride who immerses several days before her wedding is sometimes an exception to this rule.]


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