The menstrual cycle begins with menstruation, a phase where the uterus lining is shed. The period occurs, a secretion composed of endometrial tissue, blood, and toxins that the body must discard to start a new cycle. Menstruation can vary each month, presenting different color, consistency, and smell, but in general, the rule is usually a bright red tone, light or thick texture, and free of viscosities.
Depending on the length of the woman’s period and the amount of blood that drains, clots may occur during menstruation, which can be few or many and are usually dark in color. This characteristic of menstruation tends to alert many women who wonder: Is it normal for blood clots to appear in the period? If you are one of them, in this FastlyHealarticle, you can find the answer.
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Causes of menstrual clots
Many women are surprised to find clots in the period, and the truth is that this finding is more frequent than is believed. To understand why the rule solidifies in this way, it is necessary to know that our entire body’s blood tends to clot as a defense mechanism to avoid bleeding or excessive fluid loss through a wound.
Since a woman’s body needs a fluid and light period (free of clots) to be quickly expelled, the uterus secretes natural anticoagulants to prevent the blood from curdling. However, when the woman has heavy periods, the anticoagulant is insufficient to prevent the solidification of so much fluid, and clots begin to be found in the rule.
Clots in the period, is it normal?
Yes, but to a certain extent. In most cases, blood clots do not pose any health risk. However, sometimes they can be a vital sign of changes in the woman’s body and even a sign of a disease of the female reproductive system.
Typically, the clots in the ruler measure between 5 mm and 4 cm. They are usually more abundant in the morning because the blood clots more efficiently during the night rest. They are typically dark red since When there is a lot of blood accumulated in the uterus walls, the fluid becomes heavy and thick. Clots are expected in women’s rules with long and abundant periods, and any characteristics other than those mentioned above should be consulted with the doctor.
Clots in the rule should not be a frequent description of menstruation. Therefore, if they occur every month and abundantly, they are an important reason to visit the gynecologist. There are many diseases or changes in the female body associated with the formation of clots in the rule, and below, you will be able to know the most frequent ones.
Endometriosis causes menstrual clots.
Endometriosis is a silent disease that many women suffer for years without knowing it. This condition occurs when cells from the endometrium (lining of the uterus) grow in other areas of the body, causing:
- Abundant rules
- Bleeding between periods
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Severe abdominal pain during menstruation
- Pain after having sex
- Colic before and during menstruation
- Pain in the lower back
- Clots in the period.
Not having children has developed at an early age, having periods that last more than seven days, and the presence of women in the family with endometriosis increases a woman’s risk of suffering from this disease. Endometriosis is a disease that must be treated to improve symptoms and offer a better quality of life to women. Is endometriosis cured? We give you the answer in the following article.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Some pathologies related to the female organs can cause clots in the rule without the woman knowing it. Among the gynecological diseases associated with the solidification of menstruation, pelvic inflammatory illness stands out, a condition that occurs when a sexually transmitted infection spreads to the cervix, ovaries, or fallopian tubes.
PID is characterized by producing, among other symptoms:
- Horrible pain in the pelvis
- Clots in the period
- Foul vaginal discharge
- Painful intercourse
- Lumbar pain
Treatment is generally based on administering antibiotics that control the proliferation of bacteria and eliminate the infection from the body. Having safe sex and condoms can prevent the spread of this disease.
Anemia, menstruation, and clots
Iron and blood are closely related. One of the most important functions of iron is the production of red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the human body, which is why iron deficiency is one of the leading causes of iron deficiency anemia. But in addition, there is something that very few girls know, and we are going to reveal to you: the more abundant the menstrual periods, the greater the risk that a woman runs that her iron levels decrease until they are abnormal.
How does the above affect the female reproductive system? Iron is not only essential to prevent anemia, but the uterus needs to be able to produce a sufficient amount of natural anticoagulants; therefore, in the absence of iron, there is also a decrease in anticoagulants, and a more significant number of clots are formed that will be expelled through menstruation. For this reason, iron deficiency anemia is often the cause of curdles during menstruation. Many women are anemic and do not know it.
Hormonal alteration causes rennet in menstruation.
Hormones are essential substances for the whole body to function normally. They are responsible for controlling many processes in the body. In the case of women, hormones control body temperature, breast milk production, pubic hair growth, fertility, mood, libido, and even the production of menstrual flow. Therefore, any hormonal problem that a woman presents can be a total lack of body control.
An alteration in the production of estrogens and progesterone, hormones secreted by the ovaries, is reason enough for changes in the frequency of menstruation, the amount of menstrual fluid released, and the color and texture of the period. These disorders are more common after the arrival of the first menstruation, when the woman has just given birth and when menopause is approaching.
Clots in pregnancy
It is expected that during the first three months of pregnancy, the woman has a very light spotting, light or very dark red, and very little abundant. Usually, it is the blood accumulated in the uterus and released little by little. However, it is essential to be aware of any yellowish or gray clots during this phase of pregnancy, as they could represent a sign of miscarriage. Given this suspicion, it is essential to go immediately to the emergency room to rule out any complications with the fetus’s well-being.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Is it normal for blood clots to appear in my period? We recommend that you enter our category of Female reproductive system.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.