All women are in a presumptive state of taharah for their husbands. [Men] returning from a journey —- their wives are in a presumptive state of taharah for them.  Beis Shammai say: [A woman] needs two examination cloths for each and every act of cohabitation, or she should cohabit by [using] the light of a lamp. Beis Hillel say: Two examination cloths suffice for her the entire night.

The Sages composed a metaphor regarding a woman: The Room, the Vestibule, and the Attic.  Blood of the Room [is] tamei. [If blood] was found in the Vestibule, its doubt [is] tamei since it is presumed [to have come] from the uterus.

A woman has five tamei [shades of] blood: Red, black, [a shade] similar to the radiance of crocus, [a shade] similar to earth waters, and [a shade] similar to diluted [wine].  Beis Shammai say: Also [a shade] similar to fenugreek waters and similar to the juices of roasted meat, while Beis Hillel declare [these shades] tahor.  The [color] yellow, Akavia ben Me-halalel declares [it] tamei, while the Sages declare [it] tahor.  R’ Meir said: [Even] if [yellow blood] does not convey tumah as a bloodstain, it conveys tumah as a liquid.  R’ Yose says: [It conveys tumah] neither in this manner nor in that manner.

Which [shade] is red? Similar to the blood of a wound. [Which shade is] black? Similar to cheres; deeper than this [is] tamei, weaker than this [is] tahor. [Which shade is] like the radiance of crocus? Similar to the [most] brilliant [part] of it. [Which shade is] like earth waters? [That produced when one takes soil] from the valley of Beis Kerem and floats water [upon it]. [Which shade is] like diluted [wine]? Two parts water and one [part] wine, of Sharon wine.