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

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Mikveh after ectopic pregnancy

4 September, 2024
Question:

I had an ectopic pregnancy surgery two weeks ago and had my fallopian tube removed. Do I need to wait any longer than normal to go to the Mikvah?

Also, the glue tape over my stitches has not come off yet. If I can get some of it off or remove the glue around the scars, how am I certain there is not in a tiny bit or more on the actual scars? I don’t want to be touching or picking the scar but I would like to try to go to the Mikvah in a few days.


Answer:

We are so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and wish you a refuah shlaimah.

In general, following a pregnancy loss within forty days after conception, a woman may immerse in the mikveh as soon as she completes her seven clean days. (If a pregnancy lasted more than forty days after conception, immersion may not take place before fourteen days have elapsed from the surgery/miscarriage, if the gender of the fetus was unknown. It sounds like over fourteen days have already passed since your surgery, so even in that case you may immerse as soon as you complete the seven clean days.)

Stitches that dissolve on their own are not considered a chatzitzah.

Visible glue is a chatzitzah and should be removed prior to immersion as much as possible. Please ask your physician whether this glue can be picked off after the scar has healed sufficiently (probably about one week after surgery). Tiny remnants that remain do not invalidate tevilah.

You should follow any instructions your physician has given you regarding bathing and resuming relations. It is permissible to immerse for purposes of other types of physical affection even when relations need to be delayed for medical reasons.

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

BHatzlacha!

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