I got the Mirena IUD inserted & I know I might stain. How does it work with Mikva?

 

I got the Mirena IUD inserted on Friday. I know I might stain for a while. How does it work with Mikva?

 Would I be able to go to the mikva after a certain amount of time or a certain staining color etc.

 

Answer:

The actual IUD insertion makes you a Niddah due to uterine dilation.

Since it is common to experience irregular bleeding or staining during the first few months, it’s important to ensure you don’t become a Niddah unnecessarily by showing all shaalos to a Rav. Some situations might be halachically acceptable due to color or size of stain, color of undergarment, etc. it might help to change your undergarments frequently so the stains never accumulate to become a shiur. It’s important to remember to wear colored undergarments and not to look at toilet paper unnecessarily.

Of course, if you’re experiencing a flow – not just staining – these solutions won’t work. It is hard to differentiate between a flow and a stain, but normally if you need to wear a pad, or if the pantiliner is soaked through and through, or the stain is the size of about a half a dollar that’s a pretty good indication that it is a flow. In any situation of doubt, contact a competent rabbi.

There are medications or various therapies that can decrease staining. You might want to discuss this with your doctor. You might wait also want to make use of the valuable resource: Tahareinu.com This is a website to assist women who are experiencing difficulty with this mitzvah by giving them a lot of practical advice.

It takes a while to adjust to the IUD; afterwards the bleeding often stops or at least is infrequent.

 

 

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