What is the waiting period (iddah) mentioned for a woman, and when does it end?

The divorced woman's waiting period ('iddah) begins from the moment the husband pronounces the divorce, not from the time it is officially documented. This is the view of the majority of jurists. If the divorce occurred two and a half months ago, the two menstrual periods you mentioned are counted towards the 'iddah, and the woman exits her 'iddah with the third menstrual period. However, if the husband did not pronounce the divorce until after proposing to the wife, then her 'iddah begins from the date he pronounced the divorce, and the two preceding menstrual periods are not counted towards the 'iddah. Marriage to her is not permissible until the 'iddah has expired, with the prohibition of proposing to a woman in her 'iddah or a married woman.