In the New Testament (or Christian scriptures if you are being politically correct!!), there was this guy called John (a 'prophet' from God some say) who was recalling people back to their faith/the old ways (early Judaism before the pharisees etc...kinda like Jesus' message as well) by emersing them in water (or what Christians call baptism)...ritual cleansing, absolution of sin etc etc etc... based upon the same ritual practice of mikvah I think but men and women did it...He baptised Jesus hence we know men did it.... like I ssaid, Im not too sure on this. Just piecing bits together to make up something!!