How Woman Becomes Nidah

How a Woman Becomes Nidah 1

Introduction to Halachos of Taharas Hamishpacha

‫דיני טהרת‬ ‫המשפחה‬

Four general topics

How a woman becomes nidah

Harchakos

Process of purification

Vestos

Practical background information

The Reproductive Organs and Monthly Cycle

The Reproductive Organs Uterus and surrounding organs

The Reproductive Organs Uterine muscle

The Reproductive Organs Cervix

The Reproductive Organs Vagina

The Reproductive Organs Ovaries

The Reproductive Organs Fallopian Tubes

The Reproductive Organs Uterine Cavity

The Monthly Cycle Uterine lining: Preparation for pregnancy

The Monthly Cycle Eggs

Reservoir of eggs Egg

Reservoir of eggs

The Monthly Cycle Ovulation

The Monthly Cycle Entry of sperm

The Monthly Cycle Fertilization

The Monthly Cycle Shedding of the blood in uterine lining (if fertilization didn’t occur)

The Monthly Cycle Summary of process Shedding of blood lining Womb prepares for potential pregnancy

Ovulation Luteal phase Average cycle length: 28-30 days Ovulation typically occurs 14 days before start of next period

The Monthly Cycle Getting period When she sees blood — she becomes nidah

Forbidden Impure for Terumah and Korbanos (Only relevant in times of Beis Hamikdosh)

to her husband

The Monthly Cycle Getting period Physical and emotional ramifications

Hygiene

Pains and discomforts Extra sensitivity

Shifts in emotional state Appropriate manner of speech

The Monthly Cycle Getting period Duration of prohibition

In regular circumstances

Around every 4 weeks For around 2 weeks

The Monthly Cycle Getting period Exceptions

During pregnancy

After childbirth

While nursing

How a Woman Enters the State of Nidah

Introduction Importance of being in contact with Rav

Any questions that arise should be brought to a practicing Rav

Introduction De’oraisa and Derabanan

Tumah de’oraisa

Tumah derabanan

Generally no practical difference

First Way

Getting Period

Getting Period

Nidah mide’oraisa

How does a woman become nidah mide’oraisa in the present age?

Seeing blood with hargasha Very uncommon nowadays

In present age: Getting period

Second Way

Bedikah and Wiping

Bedikah and Wiping Bedikah

A bedikah is an internal examination of her vaginal canal — her cloth-covered-finger gently touches all inside surfaces

Bedikah and Wiping Bedikah If blood is found on bedikah cloth

Nidah mide’oraisa

Rav checks the color

Bedikah and Wiping Wiping

Kinuach External wiping (as done after using the restroom)

Bedikah and Wiping Wiping If blood is found on tissue used for wiping

Alter Rebbe holds it’s like a bedikah Always consult Rav when this occurs

Bedikah and Wiping Blood in urine

Blood in urine could be problematic (depending on various factors)

Consult a Rav

Bedikah and Wiping General recommendations To avoid unnecessary questions:

Avoid looking at toilet paper

Don’t do unnecessary bedikos

Third Way

Staining

Halachos of Stains Defining a Stain Seeing blood without hargasha

Small amount of blood

Appears at different times than period

Halachos of Stains What is woman’s status?

Mide’oraisa

Miderabanan

Woman is temei’ah only if she felt blood coming out

Chachamim decreed tumah

"If blood shall be her flow in her flesh" — until she feels in her flesh

As safeguard for blood that came out with hargasha

Halachos of Stains When does stain make her nidah?

Only if all three requirements are present:

Larger than size of gris

White surface

On something susceptible to tumah

Requirement #1: Size

Larger than gris

Too big to have come from a bug

Requirement #1: Size

Size of gris

14–17 mm

Requirement #1: Size Shape of stain

Round

Oval

Combining smaller stains

Requirement #1: Size A small stain There are situations when even a small stain can render nidah: 1

Black stain

Blood from bugs doesn’t turn black

2

Stain on body

Different opinions

Requirement #2: White surface

Only stains on white surface render nidah

So color of stain could be clearly identified

Requirement #2: White surface Wearing colored garments

Chazal’s advice to avoid becoming nidah from stains Women should wear colored clothing

Requirement #2: White surface Striped Garment

Stains on colored portion don’t render nidah

Consult Rav whether separate parts of the stain on white areas combine for minimum size

Requirement #3: Susceptible to tumah

Only stains on item susceptible to tumah render nidah

The decree of chachamim was related to concern that item with stain could make terumah impure

Requirement #3: Susceptible to tumah Which items are susceptible to tumah?

Toilet paper

Pads

Nylon

Floor

No

No

No

No

If used for wiping — must consult Rav

Mostly synthetic; disposable

Requirement #3: Susceptible to tumah Which items are susceptible to tumah?

Toilet seat

Toilet

Clothing

No

No

Yes

Since connected to structure

Halachos of Stains Exceptions even if stain meets all requirements: 1

2

If Rav determines it isn’t problematic color

If Rav attributes the stain to a wound or the like

Halachos of Stains Practically

Doesn’t meet requirements

Meets all requirements

Pure

Consult Rav

Fourth Way

Hargasha – Sensations

Hargasha Poskim mention three types of sensations: 1

2

3

Feeling uterus open

Trembling

Feeling flow of moisture

Rare

Rare

Can happen infrequently Subject to debate of poskim

Hargasha Which flow of moisture is counted?

From uterus to vagina

Hargasha

Within vagina

Debated

From vagina to outside

Not hargasha

Hargasha

Hargasha can render woman nidah even without seeing blood When a woman has a genuine hargasha – she must do a bedikah

Anytime she thinks she may have had a hargasha Consult with Rav, who will clarify (1) Was it really a hargasha (2) How she should conduct herself

Fifth Way

Childbirth

The Tumah of Childbirth . . ‫יע ְויָּׁ ְל ָּׁדה‬ ַ ‫" ִא ָּׁשה ִכי ַתזְ ִר‬ "‫ ִכ ֵימי נִ ַדת ְד ָֹּׁותּה‬. . ‫ְו ָּׁט ְמ ָּׁאה‬ )‫ ב‬,‫(ויקרא יב‬

“If a woman conceives and gives birth… she shall be impure… as the days of her menstrual flow” (Vayikra 12:2)

Process of Childbirth

Contractions

Dilation

Water breaking

Losing mucus plug

Delivery

What Stage Renders Nidah Any of these on its own renders woman nidah: 1

2

3

She sees blood

Contractions become strong

Feels ready to deliver

When unable to walk without help

Wants to get onto delivery bed

Water breaking Some are concerned for blood even if not seen, so consult Rav Losing mucus plug If blood is seen

What Stage Renders Nidah

Inducing labor

Generally labor shouldn’t be induced, unless there is medical need

Some methods of inducing labor render woman nidah, so Rav should be consulted

Process of Childbirth If labor stops in middle

Rav should be consulted

How Long She Remains Nidah

When she completely stops bleeding (usually at least a month or more later) she can begin the purification process

Sixth Way

Medical Examinations

Medical Examinations The rule:

“There is no opening of the womb without bleeding” Some medical examinations done in the vagina cause the cervix to open to some degree

Medical Examinations Which examinations render nidah?

Routine exams done during pregnancy — usually don’t open the cervix

Non-routine exams in vagina — clarify with doctor and Rav

Seventh Way

She Says “I’m impure”

She Says “I’m impure”

If a woman says, “I’m impure” — she renders herself nidah

She creates a prohibition upon herself

She Says “I’m impure” Excuse

In some cases, if the woman has a reasonable excuse why she said that, she will remain pure, so a Rav should be consulted

She Says “I’m impure” Be careful what you say

A woman should be careful not to joke around with these matters

Even if she is concerned that she saw blood, she should use terms of “possibility” and not “certainty” until conclusive determination

Seventh Way

Hymenal Blood

Hymenal Blood Dam Besulim

Blood that can come from the hymenal ring when pressure is applied, generally at the first instance of marital relations

Hymenal Blood Does it render nidah?

Mide’oraisa

Miderabanan

No, since it’s not from the uterus

Chazal decreed that it does

Hymenal Blood

First act of marital intimacy

Following the first act of intimacy with a virgin, the woman becomes nidah even if no blood was found

If the degree of penetration wasn’t clear, consult Rav