Does bleeding coming from a woman who went through menopause regarded as menstrual blood?

- Does bleeding coming from a woman who went through menopause regarded as menstrual blood?
- What should such a woman do related to prayers and fasting?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Bleeding coming from a woman who went through menopause is not regarded as menstrual blood religiously. It is regarded as bleeding of excuse. Such a woman performs prayers and fasting.  

Menstrual bleeding generally ceases at the age of 45-50-55. It is called menopause. However, women generally go through menopause between the ages of 48 and 52. Bleeding is rarely seen in women over 52. If a woman who is between the ages of 48 and 52 does not have any menstrual bleeding for a year, she is regarded to have gone through menopause. If bleeding starts again after menopause, causes of serious illnesses may lie under it. 

Menstrual bleeding starts to cease after the age of 45 in women. It rarely starts to cease before 45. It can start to cease up to the age of 55.  

A woman whose menstrual bleeding ceases is regarded to have gone through menopause. The secretion of hormone and formation of ovum decrease first and stop after that. Menstrual bleeding does not occur any longer and the woman becomes unable to give birth. The period of menopause starts. In that period, the woman loses her power to give birth. She can still have sexual intercourse; menopause does not prevent it. 

The Duration of Menopause Period:

There is no definite rule about it. It can last 10 years, 5 years or less. The elements that affect the duration of menopause are as follows: The psychological and physical state of the woman, her sexual life, her health, the functioning state of her hormones, nervous system and all organs, happiness and peace at home.

Menstrual bleeding may cease before and after those ages based on the structure of the body of the woman. However, menstrual bleeding of a woman generally ceases after the age of 55. It means there is no hope or possibility of pregnancy after that. The bleeding that occurs after menopause in a woman may make it necessary to see a doctor.

The ages of the beginning and ending of menstrual bleeding according to madhhabs

According to Hanafis, a girl enters the age of puberty at the age of 9 the earliest and starts to have menstrual bleeding. Menstrual bleeding ends at the ages between 50 and 55. There are some women whose menstrual bleeding stops before that age. The period may vary from woman to woman.

According to Malikis, the bleeding seen between the ages of 13 and 50 is definitely menstrual bleeding. The bleeding seen before or after those ages is shown to an expert and the decree is given accordingly. The bleeding after the age of 70 is definitely bleeding of excuse.

According to Shafiis, there is no definite period. The climate of the region is effective on it. However, it generally ceases after the age of 62.

According to Hanbalis, it starts with puberty and ends at the age of 50. The bleeding after that age is not menstrual bleeding but bleeding of excuse.

(Büyük Kadın İlmihali, Rauf PEHLİVAN, Gonca Yayınevi, 1993; İzahlı Kadın İlmihali, Asım Uysal, Mürşide Uysal, Uysal Yayınevi,  2001)

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