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

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Stains (Ketamim)


A bloodstain found on clothing or another object can sometimes make a woman niddah, depending on the circumstances.


Discovering an unexpected bloodstain when a woman is not in niddah can be stressful. Besides being suddenly required to separate from her husband, she is sometimes faced with the prospect that her normal menses will begin before she can go to the mikveh, prolonging the separation. Finding a stain during the shivah neki’im (seven clean days) is no less stressful because it might invalidate them and delay mikveh immersion.

Furthermore, a woman with staining may wonder if something is medically wrong.

According to Torah law, a woman becomes niddah or invalidates her clean days only with uterine bleeding accompanied by a bodily sensation (hargashah).

Our Sages, however, decreed that a bloodstain found on clothing or another object, unaccompanied by hargashah, can also render a woman niddah or invalidate the clean days. However, they enacted several leniencies as part of this decree, to avoid overburdening women by causing them to spend more time in niddah on account of extraneous stains. These leniencies are listed below.

The first four leniencies listed here apply only when there has been no hargashah. Therefore, they do not apply to any discharge found on a bedikah cloth, or another item inserted internally such as a tampon or diaphragm, because the sensation of inserting or removing the item could have masked a hargashah.

1) The size of the stain

Only a stain larger than the size of a gris, roughly the area of a circle 19 millimeters in diameter (about the size of a penny), renders a woman niddah or invalidates the clean days. This measure is one of area, so a long narrow stain may still be smaller than a gris. When a woman is certain that a stain is smaller in area than a gris, she may be confident that it did not make her niddah.

Because this can be hard to judge, we usually suggest that women check stains by comparing them to a dime (17.91 mm in diameter) or a shekel (18 mm), both of which are slightly smaller than a gris. Consult with a halachic authority about stains that aren’t clearly this size or smaller—if none of the other leniencies of stains apply.

When several smaller stains are found on the body, they render her niddah if the total surface area adds up to more than the size of a gris. When several smaller stains are found on a garment or other surface, the area of each stain is considered separately.

2) The type of surface on which the stain was found

The laws of niddah, and particularly the decree about stains, are closely associated with the laws of ritual impurity (tumah v’taharah). Accordingly, our Sages ruled that a stain would have halachic significance only if it could render the object on which it was found ritually impure. Thus, a stain found on an object that is not susceptible to ritual impurity (e.g., a plastic chair or toilet seat, or on the floor) does not render a woman niddah or invalidate the clean days.

There is a dispute among contemporary halachic decisors as to whether synthetic fabrics such as nylon are susceptible to ritual impurity; if a stain is found on a garment made from synthetic fabric, a specific halachic question should be asked.

Our site follows the halachic ruling that disposable pantiliners and pads are not susceptible to ritual impurity, so that a stain found even on a white disposable pantiliner or pad does not make a woman niddah or invalidate the clean days.

During the clean days, a woman with chronic staining may sometimes receive halachic advice to use a white pantiliner in order to avoid staining questions.

Outside of the clean days, a woman may opt to use a colored pantiliner, which provides even more grounds for leniency.

According to many authorities, a stain on toilet paper, a toilet seat or toilet water is treated as a stain on an object that is not susceptible to ritual impurity. But if blood is found on any of these within seconds of urinating, the leniencies of stains may not apply.  Please see our article Toilet Paper for more information.

3) The color of the surface on which the stain was found

A stain found on a colored surface does not render a woman niddah or invalidate the clean days. Therefore, it is highly recommended that women wear colored underwear (except during the seven clean days) and sleep on colored sheets, in order to avoid becoming niddah through staining.

This leniency applies to items of any color (except off-white and pale beige, which are typically considered shades of white). A woman can choose colors light enough that she will notice any staining, without the risk of a stain making her niddah.

4) The location of the stain

Only stains found where they could have come directly from vaginal bleeding can render a woman niddah or invalidate the clean days. Thus stains found on the inner surface of the legs, or on the hands or feet, or on clothing from the hips down, pose halachic questions, but those on the upper body, or arms do not – unless a woman has done handstands or other acrobatics.

5) A stain attributable to other causes

If the stain could reasonably have come from another source, it does not make a woman niddah and might not invalidate the clean days. For example:

  • If she has a wound or lesion, to which the blood can reasonably be attributed (see Dam Makkah).
  • If she was working with blood, e.g., drawing blood in a laboratory, suturing a wound, or cleaning chickens.
  • If she can attribute the blood she found to someone else, e.g., she lifted a child with a nosebleed.

For women who follow Ashkenazi rulings, the rules for attributing a stain to an external cause are more stringent during the first three of the seven clean days. Thus, if she is not absolutely sure that the blood is from an external source, she should consult a halachic authority.

One may also attribute blood found on something inserted internally, such as a diaphragm or bedikah cloth, to a lesion or wound. One should consult a halachic authority.

6) The color of the stain

A flow or stain makes a woman niddah or invalidates the clean days only if its color is one of those that halacha stipulates as niddah colors. Discharge that has no trace of red or pink (e.g., clear, white, yellow, or green) does not make a woman niddah. Brown the shade of coffee with milk or lighter, with no hint of red, also does not make a woman niddah. Darker shades of brown, or browns with a reddish tint, require evaluation by a halachic authority. Stains are best evaluated in natural sunlight (holding the cloth or stained item in the shade rather than in direct sunlight), as colors may appear different in artificial light.

Colors are also relevant to discharge found on something inserted internally, such as a diaphragm or bedikah cloth.

The first four leniencies listed here apply only when there has been no hargashah. Therefore, they do not apply to any discharge found on a bedikah cloth, or another item inserted internally such as a tampon or diaphragm, because the sensation of inserting or removing the item could have masked a hargashah.

Only a stain larger than the size of a gris, roughly the area of a circle 19 millimeters in diameter (about the size of a penny), renders a woman niddah or invalidates the clean days. This measure is one of area, so a long narrow stain may still be smaller than a gris. When a woman is certain that a stain is smaller in area than a gris, she may be confident that it did not make her niddah.

Because this can be hard to judge, we usually suggest that women check stains by comparing them to a dime (17.91 mm in diameter) or a shekel (18 mm), both of which are slightly smaller than a grisConsult with a halachic authority about stains that aren’t clearly this size or smaller—if none of the other leniencies of stains apply.

When several smaller stains are found on the body, they render her niddah if the total surface area adds up to more than the size of a gris. When several smaller stains are found on a garment or other surface, the area of each stain is considered separately.

The laws of niddah, and particularly the decree about stains, are closely associated with the laws of ritual impurity (tumah v’taharah). Accordingly, our Sages ruled that a stain would have halachic significance only if it could render the object on which it was found ritually impure. Thus, a stain found on an object that is not susceptible to ritual impurity (e.g., a plastic chair or toilet seat, or on the floor) does not render a woman niddah or invalidate the clean days.

There is a dispute among contemporary halachic decisors as to whether synthetic fabrics such as nylon are susceptible to ritual impurity; if a stain is found on a garment made from synthetic fabric, a specific halachic question should be asked.

Our site follows the halachic ruling that disposable pantiliners and pads are not susceptible to ritual impurity, so that a stain found even on a white disposable pantiliner or pad does not make a woman niddah or invalidate the clean days.

During the clean days, a woman with chronic staining may sometimes receive halachic advice to use a white pantiliner in order to avoid staining questions.

Outside of the clean days, a woman may opt to use a colored pantiliner, which provides even more grounds for leniency.

According to many authorities, a stain on toilet paper, a toilet seat or toilet water is treated as a stain on an object that is not susceptible to ritual impurity. But if blood is found on any of these within seconds of urinating, the leniencies of stains may not apply.  Please see our article Toilet Paper for more information.

A stain found on a colored surface does not render a woman niddah or invalidate the clean days. Therefore, it is highly recommended that women wear colored underwear (except during the seven clean days) and sleep on colored sheets, in order to avoid becoming niddah through staining.

This leniency applies to items of any color (except off-white and pale beige, which are typically considered shades of white). A woman can choose colors light enough that she will notice any staining, without the risk of a stain making her niddah.

Only stains found where they could have come directly from vaginal bleeding can render a woman niddah or invalidate the clean days. Thus stains found on the inner surface of the legs, or on the hands or feet, or on clothing from the hips down, pose halachic questions, but those on the upper body, or arms do not – unless a woman has done handstands or other acrobatics.

If the stain could reasonably have come from another source, it does not make a woman niddah and might not invalidate the clean days. For example:

  • If she has a wound or lesion, to which the blood can reasonably be attributed (see Dam Makkah).
  • If she was working with blood, e.g., drawing blood in a laboratory, suturing a wound, or cleaning chickens.
  • If she can attribute the blood she found to someone else, e.g., she lifted a child with a nosebleed.

For women who follow Ashkenazi rulings, the rules for attributing a stain to an external cause are more stringent during the first three of the seven clean days. Thus, if she is not absolutely sure that the blood is from an external source, she should consult a halachic authority.

Blood found on something inserted internally, such as a diaphragm or bedikah cloth, may sometimes also be attributed to a wound or lesion. One should consult a halachic authority.

A flow or stain makes a woman niddah or invalidates the clean days only if its color is one of those that halacha stipulates as niddah colors. Discharge that has no trace of red or pink (e.g., clear, white, yellow, or green) does not make a woman niddah. Brown the shade of coffee with milk or lighter, with no hint of red, also does not make a woman niddah. Darker shades of brown, or browns with a reddish tint, require evaluation by a halachic authority. Stains are best evaluated in natural sunlight (holding the cloth or stained item in the shade rather than in direct sunlight), as colors may appear different in artificial light.

Colors of discharge found on something inserted internally, such as a diaphragm or bedikah cloth, are also critical in determining whether a woman is in niddah.

The leniencies above apply to the staining many women experience at various points during the reproductive life cycle (e.g., postpartumperimenopause, while taking the active pills of hormonal contraceptives). They are not intended to prevent a woman from becoming niddah when she menstruates. A woman who feels a distinct hargashah or experiences a flow of blood becomes niddah even if she is wearing black underwear or disposable pantiliners or pads, and doesn’t look at toilet paper.

There is no clearly defined halachic boundary between “staining” and a “flow.” In practice, it is often relatively easy to distinguish. As a rule of thumb, bleeding that is too heavy to be contained by pantiliners, and would require a pad or tampon, is probably a flow. If she actually sees blood leaving her body, she is niddah. In doubtful situations, a specific halachic question should be asked.

It is completely legitimate, and halachically recommended, to rely on the leniencies built into the laws of stains. We recommend following these precautions to avoid becoming niddah unnecessarily:

  • Wearing colored underwear or pantiliners (according to many opinions, including those followed by this website, disposable white pantiliners are also effective)
  • Not looking at toilet paper or taking care to wait fifteen seconds between urinating and wiping
  • Taking precautions during and after relations, as outlined here.
  • Not inserting tampons when not already in niddah
  • Not performing bedikot when there is no halachic requirement to do so

To avoid staining questions during the seven clean days, a woman should also take care with toilet paper. Some women also choose to change underwear more frequently in order to prevent a large stain from accumulating.

Women with chronic staining may receive halachic advice to reduce the number of bedikot. In some cases, a woman may be advised to use a white pantiliner or to wear colored underwear in the clean days to head off staining questions

A couple can take precautions at the time of marital relations to avoid becoming niddah after relations. Most of these measures are meant to maximize the chances that blood found after relations will be considered a stain that does not make a woman niddah. These are recommendations, and not obligatory:

  • A couple should usually not look for signs of bleeding before, during, or after relations.
  • When possible, relations should take place on colored bedding, preferably dark. A couple planning to stay at a hotel, where the sheets are likely to be white, are advised to bring a colored sheet or towel with them.
  • If cleaning oneself after relations, it is advisable to wait a bit first, so that anything found will not be immediately after relations.
  • It is also recommended to clean using only dark-colored towels, or disposable products that they can easily discard without looking (so as to avoid finding any blood).

 

Please see here for a detailed discussion of bleeding after marital relations.

If a woman is not in niddah and has spotting that does not meet the criteria for ketamim (and thus does not make her niddah), we usually recommend that she avoid actual relations until she has been clear of staining for about 24 hours. Other forms of physical affection continue as usual.

Refraining in this manner is a voluntary precaution against a flow beginning during relations, and also gives her time to evaluate the situation and determine whether the staining will develop into a real flow. It is not a halachic requirement, and does not indicate that she considers herself niddah.

In addition to halachic concerns, staining raises medical concerns. Some women regularly experience spotting around the time of ovulation as a result of a dip in estrogen at that stage of the menstrual cycle. At other times, there may be a need to consult with a physician.

The urgency of the need to consult a physician depends on the type of bleeding and the woman’s medical history. The following are general guidelines. Any woman who is worried about an ongoing situation should not hesitate to seek medical counsel.

Pre-menopausal women who have more than one cycle with bleeding between periods, or periods that last more than one week, or changes from their usual pattern should make an appointment to see their physician when it is convenient.

Women with bleeding in pregnancy should always consult their healthcare provider. If the bleeding is accompanied by pain or is significant enough to require a pad, this evaluation should be in an emergent setting (immediate office appointment, urgent care center, or emergency room). Minor spotting can be discussed with a physician in a clinic during normal work hours within one or two days.

Menopausal woman who experience spotting after at least a year without bleeding should make an appointment to see their physician within a few days.

Leniencies of Stains

Assessing a Stain

Stain vs. Flow


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