Stopping One's period during Ramadan by taking Medicines

Some women take pills in Ramadaan to stop their periods. They do this so that they will not have to make up any fasts afterwards. Is this permissible and are there any restrictions on their doing this?

Praise be to Allaah.

I think that women should not do this and they should remain on the menstrual cycle that Allaah has decreed for them and for all the daughters of Adam. There is wisdom behind it and a reason for which Allaah created it, and this wisdom befits the nature of women. If a woman tries to stop this cycle, it will undoubtedly have a harmful effect on her body, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.” This is besides the fact that these pills can do harm to the uterus as the doctors have stated. What I think with regard to this issue is that women should not use these pills. Praise be to Allaah for His decree and wisdom. When a woman’s period comes, she should stop fasting and praying, and when her period is over she should resume fasting and praying; when Ramadaan is over she should make up the fasts that she has missed.

Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen

http://islamqa.com/en/ref/7416

I want to take medicine to delay my period in Ramadan

Fatwa: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Delaying the menses period is permissible but leaving it to its natural process is better for many reasons:

a) This is a thing, which Allah has ordained for the daughter of Eve. The Muslim women follow the orders of Allah by abstaining from prayers, fasting, making Tawaf around al-Ka'ba in this period just as they worship Allah by performing prayers, fasting, etc. when they are clean. Therefore, when a menstruating woman abandons performing prayers, fasting, implementing Allah's Orders she is actually worshipping Allah and gets reward on doing so just as she gets reward on fulfilling her religious duties when she is pure. Therefore, trying to delay the period is like changing the creation of Allah.

b) Probably the pills for delaying menses may not prevent other discharges that are similar to the menses. In this case, the woman gets confused on whether it is menses or another kind of bleeding and then she cannot decide whether to perform prayers, fasting, etc. or not?
Also sometimes even after leaving the use of pills she faces disturbance in her period.

c) Many doctors do not advise women to use these pills since they may have some side effects.
Finally, we advise this sister to avoid using such pills and accept Allah's decree and continue worshipping Allah in all situations, as He prescribed.

Allah knows best.

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb

http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/Fatwa/PrintFatwa.php?lang=E&Id=85015

Question

Some women intentionally take pills during Ramadhan to prevent the monthly period - menses. The reason for this is so that they will not have to make up for the days after Ramadhan. Is this permissible or are there any restrictions regarding this for this women to act according to?

Answer

My opinion concerning this matter is that the woman should not do this and she should remain upon what Allah decreed and wrote upon the daughters of Adam. For verily, Allah has a wisdom in making this monthly cycle. This wisdom suits the nature of the woman. If this natural occurrence is prevented, there is no doubt that there will be a harmful reaction upon the woman's body. Indeed the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

"There is no harming nor is there reciprocating of harm. (Ibn Majah 2340)

This is without consideration of what these pills cause of harms to the womb, as the doctors have mentioned. Thus, my opinion concerning this matter is that the woman should not use these pills, and all praise is due to Allah for His Decree and His Wisdom. When the menses comes to her, she abstains from fasting and prayer, and when she becomes pure, she returns to fasting and prayer. Then, when Ramadhan ends, she makes up for whatever she missed of fasting.


Shaikh Ibn Uthaimin (Rahimahullah)

Reference: Fatawa Islamiyah Volume 3 Page 296-297