When Should I Talk To A Doctor About My Period Blood Clots
Put simply, you should consult a professional if you notice a sudden change in your period or if youre experiencing overall discomfort, Wysocki says. Some people might think that normal is being miserable, which it doesnt have to be.
Since heavy bleeding and period blood clots *can* signal more serious issues, theyre worth getting checked out if youre concerned or feel like your life is being disrupted , per the ACOG.
You should also get checked out if you need a new tampon or pad after less than two hours or your blood clots during your period are bigger than a quarter, the Mayo Clinic says.
How To Prevent Blood Clots During Your Period
Hormonal birth control can help keep your period in check, says Dr. Coleman, but if youd rather not use hormonal contraception or are trying to conceive, taking ibuprofen up to three times a day on your heaviest days can reduce your flow and ease cramping.
A healthy diet and lifestyle can actually help balance out hormones and excessive bleeding that is related to hormonal changes, says Dr. Gupta. However, if bleeding is due to actual anatomical problems such as fibroids, then those will need to be addressed.
Your best bet? See your OB/GYN if you think the blood clots during your period may be pointing to something more serious. He or she can help provide an individualized treatment plan for you.
Q: Are Menstrual Clots During Heavy Periods Normal
A. If you notice on heavy days of your period that blood seems extra-thick, and can sometimes form a jelly-like glob, these are menstrual clots, a mix of blood and tissue released from your uterus during your period.
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They can vary in size and color, and usually, they are nothing to worry about.
Most of the time, menstrual clots are normal, but some symptoms can signal other health concerns.
The color of a menstrual clot, which can range from bright to deeper red, doesnt matter as much as the size. If youre noticing menstrual clots larger than a quarter, especially if you are soaking pads every hour, talk to your health practitioner.
The clotting is the bodys way of protecting us, but if it happening frequently, you need to pay attention.
Watch for these other symptoms if you experience heavy flow and menstrual clots:
- Significant pain
- Accidents on clothing and sheets
- Clots increasing in size
Commonly, the cause of heavy bleeding is structural or hormonal.
Possible causes include fibroids, polyps, ovaries failing to release eggs, bleeding disorders, thyroid disorders, or, more rarely, uterine, cervical or endometrial cancer.
Treatment depends on the cause surgery may be needed if the problem is structural, while ibuprofen can help reduce bleeding and pain. Hormones may be helpful as well.
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How Much Is Heavy Bleeding
It’s difficult to define exactly what a heavy period is because it varies from woman to woman. Heavy for 1 woman may be normal for another.
Most women will lose less than 16 teaspoons of blood during their period, with the average being around 6 to 8 teaspoons.
Heavy menstrual bleeding is defined as losing 80ml or more in each period, having periods that last longer than 7 days, or both.
But it’s not usually necessary to measure blood loss. Most women have a good idea of how much bleeding is normal for them during their period and can tell when this changes.
A good indication that your periods are heavy is if you:
- are having to change your sanitary products every hour or 2
- are passing blood clots larger than 2.5cm
- are bleeding through to your clothes or bedding
- need to use 2 types of sanitary product together
Symptoms Of Painful Periods And Heavy Bleeding
Signs and symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding include:
- Bleeding for more than seven days
- Bleeding that soaks through one or more tampons or pads every hour for several hours in a row
- Need to use multiple pads to control menstrual flow
- Need to change pads or tampons during the night
- Menstrual flow with blood clots larger than a quarter
- Flooding of clothing and bedsheets with menstrual bleeding
- Symptoms of anemia, such as fatigue and shortness of breath
Symptoms of menstrual pain include:
- Diarrhea
- Lower back pain
- Nausea
- Pain that starts a few days before the period, worsens during the period, and lasts two to three days after the period ends
- Throbbing or cramping pain in the lower abdomen that can be intense
- Lower back pain during menses
Patients should see their doctors if:
- Their periods stop for more than 60 days
- Their periods become erratic
- They have any vaginal bleeding after menopause
- They suddenly get a fever and feel sick after using tampons
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A Giant Blood Clot During Period Causes & Solutions
Youve got a giant blood clot during period? Dont panic right away. Some blood clots are common, but inform yourself on all the causes and solutions.
Blood clots during menstruation are common. In general, they respond to transient hormonal changes, but in some cases, when you get a giant blood clot during period, it might require medical control. In this article we explain its most frequent causes.
Blood clots during menstruation cause concern among women. Before his appearance, fear is common to think that he is suffering from a very serious pathology.
However, it is good to know that, usually, blood clots during menstruation are of hormonal origin. As such, once the hormonal imbalance has passed, menstruation returns to normal.
It is also true that there are times when more intensive control is required. With less prevalence, blood clots during menstruation may be a warning of uterine pathologies.
Remember that we call the event menstruation through which the endometrium is detached outwards. The endometrium is the innermost layer of the uterus and cyclically, if there is no pregnancy, it follows to begin the formation of a new layer.
The detachment is what manifests externally with bleeding. Under regular conditions, the bleeding is red without clots, progressive onset.
Clots, in whatever organ they form, are usually darker than fluid blood and jelly-like consistency. They are formed under the appearance of a small ball that agglutinates the blood elements.
Causes Of Menstrual Clots
During menstruation, the endometrial cells that line the uterus strip away and leave the body.
As this happens, the body releases proteins that cause the blood in the uterus to coagulate. This coagulation prevents the blood vessels in the uterine lining from continuing to bleed.
The blood that the body has already shed also contains these coagulation proteins.
When the flow is most substantial, the coagulation proteins within the blood may start to clump together, resulting in menstrual clots.
This generally occurs when menstrual blood pools in the uterus or vagina before leaving the body.
Although it is normal to have clots in the blood during menstruation, this symptom can sometimes signal a medical issue. It is advisable to seek medical advice if the clots:
- are larger than a quarter in size
- are very frequent
- occur with an abnormally heavy flow that requires a person to change their pad or tampon at least every 12 hours
- occur with significant pain
The following conditions may cause abnormal menstrual clots:
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When To Call A Healthcare Professional
- Your period lasts longer than eight days.
- You bleed through one or more pads or tampons every one to two hours.
- You feel dizzy, lightheaded, weak, or tired, or if you have chest pain or trouble breathing during or after your period. These can be symptoms of anemia.
- You pass menstrual blood clots larger than the size of quarters.
What Causes Menstrual Bleeding
The menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones. These hormones regulate when and if your ovaries produce eggs. They also regulate the thickening of the lining of your uterus, also known as the endometrium.
Then, your period starts when hormonal changes cause the endometrium to start to break down and separate from the wall of your uterus. The excess blood and tissue flow down through your cervix and out through your vagina. This mixture of blood and tissue is what makes up your menstrual flow or period blood.
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How Are The Causes Of Menstrual Causes Clots Diagnosed
To effectively diagnose the cause of abnormal menstrual clots, the doctor will ask you questions about some factors that might be responsible for them. For instance, you might be questioned about any history of pelvic surgery, use of birth control, or past pregnancy. In such cases, uterus examination becomes all the more necessary.
Your doctor might conduct a blood test to check for any hormonal fluctuations. An MRI or ultrasound can also be conducted to check for the presence of any fibroids, tumors, endometriosis, etc.
What Do Period Blood Clots Say About My Health
Usually, period clots are nothing to worry about , and they just come with heavy-ish periods. But in some cases, a heavy flow can signal a bigger medical problem. Keep in mind: Many of these issues are accompanied by pain and other symptomsnot *just* period blood clots.
For example, sometimes period blood clots are a sign that you could be anemic, which is when youre low on healthy red blood cells, sometimes due to too little iron or vitamin B12 .
Other times, menstrual blood clots are related to down-there issues such as uterine fibroids , pelvic inflammatory disease , endometriosis , or adenomyosis . Polycystic ovary syndrome , a common health problem caused by out-of-balance reproductive hormones, is also linked to blood clots during your period.
And if youre trying to get pregnant and feel pain and cramping in your lower abdomen or back plus spotting, bleeding, or finding tissue passing from your vagina, those could be signs of a miscarriageas opposed to typical period blood clots.
Wysocki also says if you experience heavy periods with clotted blood that also leave you pale and light-headed, you should consult a doctor to rule out von Willebrand disease , a condition that prevents blood from clotting properly.
If youre taking blood thinners like warfarin or enoxaparin , you may also have heavier-than-usual periods, and in turn, you might see clotting.
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Do All Women Get Period Blood Clots
In short, no. It really depends on individual chemistry and whether they have a heavy or light period, Wysocki says. And you might not always get them, either it isnt unusual to experience clots sporadically throughout your years of menstruation. Interestingly enough, you might notice period clots during the first and last years of your period. Its not unusual for women to have heavy, heavy bleeding during puberty, which could likely involve clotting, Wysocki says.
On the other end of the spectrum are perimenopausal women, whose ovulation and menstruation are beginning to occur further apart . When you finally do start bleeding at that stage, your periods may be heavier than youre used to and contain period blood clots.
What Causes Period Clots
Most menstrual blood clots are normal. At the beginning and the end of your cycle, they may appear bright red. Because your flow is moving quickly, the blood does not have time to darken. You may also see dark red or maroon clots during the first few days of your period when your flow is the heaviest.
A woman will feel a clot if shes been in bed or been sitting and then she stands up, says Dr. Zanotti. A clot will either come out then, or when she goes to the bathroom.
Your cervix has to dilate in order to pass larger blood clots. The pain can be strong. If you have a heavy flow and experience cramping, this is partially why you have pain.
- Cancer in your uterus or cervix.
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Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Symptoms
Your period is considered heavy if you experience any of the following symptoms:
You bleed for more than 8-10 days, and this is repeated every month.
Bleeding makes it difficult for you to go about your normal day-to-day life, like going to work or attending social events.
You often notice menstrual clots during your period.
You experience ‘flooding’ a term describing the sudden onset of periods.
In younger women, heavy periods can often be attributed to a temporary hormone imbalance, which usually corrects itself over time. If you’re concerned make an appointment with your GP.
: 06-11-19
Other Diseases That Affect The Endometrium
Other endometrial diseases such as endometrial hyperplasia, which is the overgrowth of the endometrium, or endometrial polyps, which is the formation of polyps in the endometrium, can cause you to have a period with clots due to the growth of the uterus.
What to do: you should see your gynecologist to identify the problem correctly. Treatment can be done with the curettage of the endometrial tissue or with the use of progesterone.
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The Bottom Line: Your Menstrual Cycle Can Tell You A Lot About Your Health
Thankfully, period tracking apps make it a cinch to stay on top of your cycle length as well as symptoms like cramping, headaches, and flow intensity. Get to know your body and find a gynecologist you feel comfortable seeing if issues arise.
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Hormonal Changes In Relation To Menstrual Period Blood Clots
The body depends on the balance of progesterone and estrogen to regulate the formation and shedding of the uterine lining.
Any disturbance to the balance results in the development of an excessively thick uterine lining that will lead to more bleeding. This can cause blood clots in the menstrual blood.
Hormonal changes can also happen due to menopause, a recent dramatic change in weight, and the effects of certain medications like steroids.
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When Should You See A Doctor For Heavy Bleeding
You should call the attention of your doctor when you notice one or some of the following symptoms:
- Extremely heavy menstrual bleeding from the vagina which soaks one tampon at least within the space of two hours.
- Irregular vaginal bleeding. Always take note of when you begin to notice bleeding in between periods.