Short answer
Yes, it is permitted if a doctor confirms it is safe for you, and many scholars especially allow it for Hajj or umrah. While no bleeding comes, you are pure: you pray and fast normally and your fasts count. For Ramadan it is not encouraged, since the period is Allah's decree and there is no loss in making up the days.
Using medication to delay menstruation is permissible when it causes no harm. As long as no blood appears, the woman is pure, and her prayer, fasting and tawaf are valid. If spotting appears while on the tablets, it is judged by the normal limits of haid and istihadah.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The rulings of menstruation depend on blood actually appearing. If a woman takes tablets and her period does not come, she is not menstruating, so everything a pure woman does is valid for her. The four schools agree on this principle, and the main Hanafi institutions allow delaying the period when it is medically safe.
When it helps most:
- Hajj: tawaf al-ifadah cannot be done during a period, and group flights are fixed. Delaying the period can save real hardship.
- Umrah: the same applies to the umrah tawaf. See umrah on your period.
- Ramadan: permitted, but not encouraged. Missing days and making them up is no loss, and not fasting during a period is obedience to Allah.
Health first. Only take hormonal tablets on a doctor's advice. Islam does not allow harming yourself, and some women get heavy or irregular bleeding afterwards. When Aishah's period came on her Hajj, the Prophet ﷺ told her it is something Allah has decreed for the daughters of Adam; there is no shame in it.
If bleeding or spotting appears while on the tablets:
- Under 3 days (72 hours) in total: istihadah. Keep praying and fasting, with wudu each prayer time if it continues.
- 3 days or more, within 10, and at least 15 days after your last period ended: it is your period.
- See the minimum and maximum days of a period and bleeding on birth control.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:185
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥﴾
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Ease is a goal of the Shariah.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:195
وَأَنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا۟ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوٓا۟ ۛ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٩٥﴾
And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.
Medication must not cause harm.
Sahih al-Bukhari 294
Sahih... هذا أمر كتبه الله على بنات آدم ...
"This is something Allah has decreed for the daughters of Adam."
Menstruation is a natural decree for all women, not a fault or a punishment.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on haid. Haid is blood from the womb; its rulings follow the blood appearing within its limits.
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.