Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question: Assalamu alaykum
I have a medical condition called PCOS which leads to me having irregular periods.
I always counted the bleeding that occurred at the end of my birth control pack as “hayd”(menstruation), but was wondering if it should be counted as istihada instead? Since it’s not a physiologic period and was created through hormones, does it not count as “hayd?”
Answer: Wa ‘alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah wa bar
Thank you for your question. In the Shari’a, menstral blood is the blood which comes from the breaking down of the uterine lining, regardless of the cause of the menstrual cycle (Manhal al-Waridin, Ibn Abidin). Therefore, you can keep treating it as your actual period and there is no need to repeat any prayers or fasts. And Allah knows best.
May Allah bless you with the best of both worlds.
Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat