Why Do I Get Blood Clots During My Period?

It is common among women to experience anxiety or even fear when they detect a big clot during their period. The appearance of blood clots during a period can lead to inquiries such as "Is this Normal?" or "Is there a problem with my body?"  

Clots in periods feel like jelly or thick pieces made of blood, tissue, and mucus that are expelled along with the menstrual flow. Generally, the appearance of small clots during menstruation is a normal phenomenon and is a part of the body's natural mechanism to regulate bleeding. Knowing the reasons for the formation of these clots can make you feel more assured and indicate the time when you need to go for a medical consultation.

Why Do Clots Form During Your Cycle?

Each month, the uterus gets ready for a possible pregnancy by forming a soft lining, but when the pregnancy doesn't occur, this lining is lost and expelled as menstrual blood.

• Natural process: The woman's body generally reacts by producing the natural substances that resist clotting so that the menstrual blood can flow without any trouble at all.
• Heavy flow: Heavy bleeding at that moment in time may precipitate a blood clot because of the possibility that anticoagulants may not be able to act soon enough.
• Pooling effect: If a person lies down or sits for a long time, the blood gets collected in the uterus. When that person then gets up, the blood that has been trapped may come out as clots during the menstrual cycle.

This is precisely the reason why clots are more likely to be seen on days with heavy bleeding.

Normal vs. Abnormal: How Big Is Too Big?

8 Common Causes of Large Clots in Periods

1. Hormonal and Physical Changes

The women’s endocrine system regulates the menstrual cycle with hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. The situation where the hormones are out of balance can lead to the uterine lining becoming thick when they are not the right quantity.

When your menstrual period begins, the body of the uterus wants to expel the thick lining in one go. There are cases when the bleeding is so heavy that the body’s natural chemicals that keep the blood thin may not work fast enough. As a result, blood clots occur during the period. Usually, this condition occurs during puberty, after childbirth, or around menopause.

2. Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors that can either grow inside the uterus or on its outer surface. They are quite commonly diagnosed in females during the period when they are fertile and can bear children.

The presence of fibroids results in an enlarged area in the uterus, resulting in more bleeding. As a result of this heavy flow, a lot of women experience clots in periods, and sometimes even the largest one they have ever seen in their lives. Along with these symptoms, fibroids can also lead to pain, pressure, or prolonged menstruation.

3. Uterine Polyps

Uterine polyps are minute, plump tumors that have a connection to the inner layer of the uterus. They are typically innocent, but their presence could lead to the alteration of the normal blood flow. 

The improper blood flow may cause accumulation and thickening, which eventually results in the formation of clots. The presence of polyps is often accompanied by symptoms such as irregular menstruation, intercyclic spotting, and blood clots during periods.

4. Uterine Obstruction

There are times when the uterus or cervix starts narrowing or getting partially blocked. Causes for this condition can be scarring, congenital disorders, or other health issues. 

If the menstrual blood is not able to come out through the natural passage, it gets accumulated inside the uterus. When the blood finally flows out, it looks as if the periods are accompanied by thick or big clots. The presence of such clots is often realized suddenly when one stands up after sitting or sleeping.

5. Miscarriage

A miscarriage in the early stages can resemble a very heavy menstrual flow accompanied by strong cramps and large blood clots.

Might experience large or even flesh-like clots that are unlike the ordinary menstrual ones in such instances. In the event of such circumstances, the doctor should definitely be consulted if pregnancy is suspected or if there is heavy bleeding with severe pain.

6. Bleeding Disorders

Some women suffer from medical conditions that interfere with the normal clotting of their blood. One such condition is von Willebrand disease. These disorders can lead to the patients experiencing heavy and prolonged bleeding during menstruation since the body is unable to control the loss of blood properly. That is why a woman may go through not only heavy bleeding and getting blood clots again and again, but also, along with tiredness or lack of strength.

7. Cancer or Tumors

Cancers of the uterus, cervix, or ovaries can, albeit rarely, be responsible for abnormal menstrual bleeding. 

The type of bleeding that may occur comprises very large clots, cycles that are not regular, and shedding of blood post-menopause. Even though this is an uncommon reason, it is still a good practice to let a doctor determine the cause of heavy bleeding that lasts a long time or when the largest menstrual blood clot shows up frequently.

8. Adenomyosis

It is a condition that occurs when the uterine lining grows into the uterine muscle. As a result, the uterus is thick and painful. Consequently, adenomyosis women frequently suffer from extremely heavy periods, severe pain during periods, and the presence of blood clots during periods. The bleeding can be so extreme that it might lead to a condition of weakness or anemia unless timely medical intervention is given.

When to Call Your Doctor?

If you observe any of the following, you must see a doctor:

• Consistently, clots that are larger than a quarter
• Having to change a pad or tampon every hour for many hours
• Menstruation continuing longer than 7 days
• Intense pain that is not treated with medicines
• Anemia symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, or the skin being pale skin

These indications imply that your period clots may be in need of professional assessment.

Managing Heavy Clots

The medical treatment is determined by the underlying cause, but there are nonetheless simple procedures that could be carried out:

• Stay hydrated: Water intake enhancement contributes to better blood circulation.
  
• Eat iron-rich foods: With excessive loss of blood, obtain support from the consumption of spinach, lentils, beans, dates, and red/white meats to rejuvenate iron reserves.
  
• Pain relief: The use of pain relievers available over the counter (as guided by your physician) may ease the pain caused by cramps.
  
• Heat therapy: A hot heating pad placed over the lower abdomen can make the pain and discomfort caused by blood clots during menstruation go away.

Conclusion

Menstrual period clots are a usual experience and mostly considered normal, especially during the days of heavy bleeding. The majority of women encounter tiny clots during their menstruation, and it mainly indicates nothing serious is going on.

However, giant clots popping up again and again or drastic changes in your menstrual cycles are no longer trivial matters and should be given attention. Frequent blood clot worries during the period would be correct to seek a doctor’s opinion. If you want to seek medical consultation in Gurgaon, Dr. Garima Singh, a Senior Consultant, Gynecologist & Infertility Specialist at SCI IVF Gurgaon, deals with women's health issues with utmost care and compassion.