Does blood discharged after the cessation of postpartum bleeding, due to taking medication, invalidate fasting and prayer?

The default rule is that blood discharged from a woman's vagina is menstrual blood unless it exceeds fifteen days. A woman might take medication that causes her to experience the usual menstrual bleeding at an irregular time. In this case, the rulings of menstruation apply to her, and she must refrain from prayer, fasting, and sexual intercourse.

However, if, due to medication, blood is discharged that does not resemble menstrual blood in its characteristics, and this occurs outside of her usual period, then the more apparent ruling is that it is not considered menstruation.

It is stated in the fatwas of the Permanent Committee: "If the blood that appeared after taking the two pills is the customary blood known to the woman, then it is menstrual blood, and she should abstain from fasting and prayer during its duration. If it is otherwise, then it is not considered menstrual blood that prevents fasting, prayer, and sexual intercourse, because it appeared only due to the pills."

It is advisable to ask a doctor whether this blood is menstrual blood or blood that appeared due to illness or medication. Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen said regarding blood resulting from birth control pills: "The woman should ask a doctor. If he says it is menstruation, then it is menstruation. If he says these are secretions from these pills, then it is not menstruation."