Can A Muslimah Intetntionally Stop her Period During Ramadan?

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