Do I Need to Wait for Thread-Like Discharge to Consider My Menses Over?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I remember hearing that there are two things a woman can look for when it comes to attaining her purity after her menses. Dryness (no color) or a white thread-like discharge. However, is possible for a woman to experience both? One happens sooner than the other. I feel like after my period, I will sometimes see dryness, but then days later, almost at the 15-day maximum, I see the white color. Is it permissible for me to start praying again when I see dryness? I’ve heard that it is better to wait until you see the clear discharge, but I find it stressful and overwhelming to wait until almost 15 days have passed. It is a big problem as either way, I feel like I may be accruing major sins.

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for your sincerity in doing what is right in your outward worship.

Ovulation Discharge

Only clear or white discharge denotes purity, so once you see either, your period is over, and you should take your ritual bath. The thread-like discharge that you see after 15 days sounds like ovulation discharge (this indicates the time when a woman is most likely to get pregnant). You do not need to wait for that; simply take your bath when you feel that your colored discharge is gone. In terms of dryness, technically, that area is never dry, there is always wetness, so one should check to see the color. The best way to check is below.

Determining the End of Menses

In order to determine the end of your menses, you should apply a kursuf, which is a small piece of white cloth (not toilet paper as it disintegrates too easily) about 30-40 minutes before the end of the prayer time inserted between the labial lips (labia minora). Walk around and wait for some moisture to come down. When you remove it and check, you will see the true color without it being oxidized. If it’s clear, you have enough time to shower and pray; if it isn’t, then do it again at the end of the next prayer time. You don’t need to do this for your whole period, of course, just toward the end, when you suspect that your menses are ending.

Please see these links as well:

• How Do I Determine My Purity after Menses?
• Does a Creamy Colour Count as White Discharge after One’s Period?
• Does Yellow Mean That My Period Is Over and I Can Shower?

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.