Iron deficiency anemia can be one of the causes of a clotted period, as iron deficiency can impair blood clotting and lead to menstrual clots.
If you have a heavy blood flow during your menstrual cycle, you have a greater risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia. A heavy flow can cause excessive blood loss and deplete your body's iron stores. A heavy flow can cause you to soak a pad or tampon every hour for several hours.
Although it might seem obvious to replace iron after blood loss, it is less well-known that chronic iron deficiency can also cause menorrhagia, abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding. If there are low levels of ferritin – the body's storage repository of iron – menstruation can be prolonged.
They can develop when the lining of the uterus is shed during your normal menstrual cycle. But when a clot is the size of a quarter or larger and/or is accompanied by extreme pain or a heavy flow, it may be due to a more serious condition like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or even cancer.
Endometriosis blood clots may appear as dark or bright red clumps or blobs in menstrual flow. The clots can vary in size and texture, ranging from small and grainy to larger and more jelly-like in consistency.
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. They can vary in size and color, and usually, they are nothing to worry about.
Women with heavy periods may be particularly at risk of developing low iron levels, often leading to tiredness and fatigue. Among women who experience heavier periods, adequate daily iron intake is particularly important and may be difficult to achieve with diet alone.
Iron is an essential nutrient in blood that carries oxygen, and due to blood loss during menstruation, people who have periods are more susceptible to iron deficiency. In fact, if you have periods, we actually need to consume 18 mg per day of iron, while others only need only 8 mg per day.
During a heavy period, thick clumps of blood often accumulate amongst the menstrual blood. However, not only a heavy, but also a particularly long menstrual period, significantly increases the female iron requirement.
Anemia Due to Blood Loss
Women who suffer from heavy menstrual periods are more prone to forms of anemia where red blood cells are lost to bleeding. Women with anemia due to blood loss may be left feeling tired, weak, and possibly even out of breath.
Anaemia, a condition caused by low iron levels, can also cause pink period blood. 'Iron is what gives the blood its red colour, and blood may become lighter if iron is low,' explains Dr Rosén.
Left untreated, however, iron-deficiency anemia can make you feel tired and weak. You may notice pale skin and cold hands and feet. Iron-deficiency anemia can also cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. Occasionally, it can cause chest pain, a fast heartbeat and shortness of breath.
Symptoms of the conditions (associated with bleeding) that cause iron deficiency anemia include: Dark, tar-colored stools or blood in the stool. Heavy menstrual bleeding (women) Pain in the upper belly (from ulcers)
Conditions affecting the ovaries, womb, or hormone levels can cause sudden heavy periods. These include uterine polyps, endometriosis, and more. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , heavy periods are among the most common health issues that females report to doctors.
In conclusion, healthy women with normal menses lose, on average, 1 mg iron/cycle. Average iron losses in patients with menorrhagia are, at least in our cohort, on average, five-to-six times higher than normal. Most women with menorrhagia had totally depleted iron stores.
Vitamin A is an antioxidant that generally helps to protect your cells against damage. It helps cells reproduce normally and is also needed for red blood cell production. Vitamin A deficiency has been found in women with heavy periods.
Treating low iron levels
The first step in resolving your low iron levels is to address heavy menstrual bleeding. You can also support your body by eating iron-rich foods, including red meat, liver and other organ meat, seafood, beans, spinach, dried apricots, peas, and iron-fortified cereal.
Passing blood clots or a sudden gush of blood when you're not on your period is common among people with a menstrual cycle. They can be caused by hormonal changes from menopause or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine growths, or thyroid issues. Clots are most common when period blood is at its heaviest.
Doctors will consider the size and frequency. “A lot of women have really small clots that might be a dime-size or Ωa quarter-size during their period and that's normal for them,” she says. “It's problematic if you're passing golf ball-sized clots and passing them every couple of hours.”
Most often, passing small blood clots during your period isn't a cause for concern. The amount, length and frequency of menstrual bleeding vary from month to month and from person to person. But if you pass large blood clots that are bigger than a grape, seek medical care.
How do you know if you have heavy bleeding? If you need to change your tampon or pad after less than 2 hours or you pass clots the size of a quarter or larger, that is heavy bleeding. If you have this type of bleeding, you should see a doctor.
There are many things that can lead to a lack of iron in the body. In men and post-menopausal women, the most common cause is bleeding in the stomach and intestines. This can be caused by a stomach ulcer, stomach cancer, bowel cancer, or by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Treatment for iron-deficiency anemia will depend on its cause and severity. Treatments may include dietary changes and supplements, medicines, and surgery. Severe iron-deficiency anemia may require a blood transfusion, iron injections, or intravenous (IV) iron therapy. Treatment may need to be done in a hospital.