Niddah for Doctors

Over the past few years the Modern Orthodox community has been transformed by the creation of the Yoatzot Halacha program at Nishmat. Their interactive website and hotline allows women to ask halachic questions, often of a private or intimate nature, in an anonymous way.

I have heard a number of women say that until the creation of the Yoatzot program they were too shy to ask some of their questions and opted to be more machmir (strict) in their observance of hilchot niddah than they might have needed to be. For many women it is just more comfortable to talk to another woman about such sensitive topics.

The Yoatzot recently launched another exciting website called Jewish Women's Health. This site is geared toward medical professionals and provides information on halachic issues relating to women's health (such as gynecological procedures, contraception, infertility, etc.)

One particular topic which caught my eye, and which is often a source of confusion for women, is the question of whether or not a woman can become a niddah after a "Pap smear" exam. Here is an example of the sensitive yet informative answer found on their site:

Use of the spatula, cotton tipped applicator, or brush for this test does not cause sufficient cervical dilation to render a woman niddah, even according to the most stringent opinion. The bleeding that sometimes accompanies this procedure is due to confirmed trauma to the outside of the cervix. Therefore, this exam should not render her a niddah according to almost all authorities.

Comments

[Jacky]

Thanks for posting this link. It seems like a very useful site.

[peninah]

Thank you Karen for bringing this to my attention! :) it looks to be a wonderful resource.