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Ultrasound Scan Does Not Nullify Fasting

Question

What is the Fatwa if a woman examined by a doctor/ultrasound scan as treatment for her infertility from her vagina during the day of Ramadan?
Does she need to make up for that day?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

Inserting something in the vagina for the purpose of a medical examination does not affect the fast as decided in the tenth session of the Council of Islamic Fiqh, held in Jeddah in 1997. The resolution contains many matters that do not affect the fasting. According to that resolution the following matters do not break the fast:

“- Anything inserted into the vagina, such as pessaries, douches, scopes or fingers for the purpose of a medical examination.
- Insertion of a scope or intrauterine device (IUD or "coil") and the like into the uterus.
- Insertion into the urethra - for males or females - of a catheter, opaque dye for diagnostic imaging, medication or solutions for cleansing the bladder”.

Therefore, this woman does not need to make up for the day in which she received the mentioned examination, unless there are some other reasons for that. However, we inform that it is better to undertake such examination after breaking the fast. As a general ruling, a woman is not allowed to receive treatment from a male doctor except if there is no female doctor and she is in dire need for that treatment.

For more benefit on a woman revealing her ‘Awrah in front of doctor, please refer to Fataawa 91787, 322978 and 363661.

For more benefit on the ‘Awrah (body parts that should be concealed as per the sharee'ah) of a woman in front of another Muslim woman and in front of a non-Muslim woman, please refer to Fataawa 92295 and 82459.

Allah knows best.

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