Short answer
Yes. When a doctor prescribes the pill to treat PCOS, painful or heavy periods, endometriosis or acne, it is medicine, and taking it is allowed whether or not you are married. Its contraceptive effect is a side effect, not the purpose. No one should assume anything bad about a woman who takes it. Follow a qualified doctor and ask a mufti if unsure.
Treatment with a medicine for a real condition is permissible. A hormonal pill taken to treat a medical condition is judged as treatment, not as contraception, so marital status does not affect it. Suspecting a Muslim woman because of her medicine is forbidden.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The combined pill and other hormonal medicines are prescribed for much more than contraception. Doctors use them for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), very heavy or painful periods, endometriosis, irregular cycles and hormonal acne. Many young Muslim women are prescribed them and worry that taking "birth control" before marriage is wrong.
The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah has sent down a cure for every disease, and that when the right remedy is found, the disease is cured by Allah's permission. A medicine is judged by why you take it. If your doctor prescribes the pill to treat a condition, you are taking treatment, and that is allowed. The fact that it would also prevent pregnancy has no bearing on an unmarried woman who is not intimate with anyone.
Things to keep in mind:
- take it as prescribed and report side effects such as headaches, mood changes or leg pain to your doctor
- ask whether other treatments suit you too, such as lifestyle changes or other medicines for PCOS
- bleeding while on the pill, and skipping it to change your period, raise questions about prayer and fasting. See women's questions and ask a mufti
- tell your parents if you can; there is nothing to hide in seeking treatment
For families and communities. Do not jump to conclusions about a girl or woman because she takes the pill. The Prophet ﷺ warned against suspicion and spying on one another. Her medical care is between her and her doctor.
For contraception within marriage, see the pill and the IUD. Always follow a qualified doctor's advice on hormonal medicines.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Ash-Shu'araa 26:80
وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ ﴿٨٠﴾
And when I am ill, it is He who cures me
Treatment is a means, and the cure is from Allah.
Quran, Surah Al-Hujuraat 49:12
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثْمٌۭ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا۟ وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًۭا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ﴿١٢﴾
O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.
Suspecting a woman because of her medicine is forbidden.
Sahih Muslim 2204
Sahih... لكل داء دواء فإذا أصيب دواء الداء برأ بإذن الله ...
"Every disease has a remedy, and when the right remedy is found, the disease is cured by Allah's permission."
Hormonal conditions may be treated like any other.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6064
Sahih... إياكم والظن فإن الظن أكذب الحديث ...
"Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the most false of speech."
No one should assume wrong about a woman taking prescribed medicine.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on treatment. Treatment with medicines is permitted.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.