Passing blood clots during your menstrual cycle is often a normal occurrence during the heaviest days of your period. In fact, most women experience clots at some point in their lives; however, heavy bleeding and passing large clots can sometimes be a cause for concern.
Clots happen when the uterine lining sheds increased amounts of blood. When the blood pools in the uterus or vagina, it begins to coagulate, much like it would on an open skin wound. The consistency of menstrual blood varies both throughout the period and from one period to another.
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.
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. Untreated heavy or prolonged bleeding can stop you from living your life to the fullest. It also can cause anemia.
What Do Blood Clots Look Like With Endometriosis? 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.
You may also have small cysts on one or both ovaries, and thick bands of scar tissue called adhesions. Stage 4 or severe: This is the most widespread. You have many deep implants and thick adhesions. There are also large cysts on one or both ovaries.
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.
The clots that are passed are dark red and look like jelly. They might have what looks like a membrane inside, which is part of the placenta. The sac will be inside one of the clots. At this time, the developing baby is usually fully formed but still tiny and difficult to see.
These clots are usually small, dark-red, and about the size of a quarter or smaller. They may be accompanied by tissue that appears grayish-white. However, if you regularly experience blood clots that are large in size, bright red in color, or accompanied by severe pain, you should speak to your doctor.
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.
Size Matters
Some clots, however, should be considered red flags. A large clot, about the size of a golf ball, is a cause for concern and should send you to your doctor immediately for a checkup.
You can expect blood clots during the heaviest days of your period. Blood clots often form if blood builds up in your uterus or vagina before exiting. If you have clots larger than about an inch or 25 mm long it's a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider.
You will typically have clots the size of a quarter during your period.
You Get a Gush of Blood When You Stand Up
Yep. “If you've been lying down or sitting for a long period of time, blood will collect in your vagina,” Dr. Herta explains. “When you get up, that pool of blood will come out.”
It can be light pink or red, brown or black and grainy, or even look just like a normal period. If the loss occurs early in your pregnancy, there may be minimal clotting, but the farther the pregnancy has progressed, clots might be denser and larger and you might notice tissue that you don't normally see with a period.
Bleeding pattern: Bleeding that gets progressively heavier may indicate a pregnancy loss. Pain: Cramping, especially when it occurs in a clear pattern, is more likely to signal a pregnancy loss. Passing tissue: Some — not all — people who experience a pregnancy loss pass large blood clots or tissue.
Blood clots are uniform red blood clumps. An ultrasound scan shows them as black areas. During miscarriage grayish tissue parts are discharged, together with blood clots. An ultrasound scan shows the products of conception as white areas.
A person should go to the ER if they: have bleeding that soaks through one pad or tampon per hour for several hours. pass blood clots that are larger than a quarter. have a rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, or both.
If an ovarian cyst ruptures, it can cause bleeding and blood clots. Ovarian cysts can also cause irregular periods and heavy, painful menstruation. Other hormonal imbalances: Hypothyroidism, perimenopause, and menopause can all cause fluctuations in your menstrual cycle and result in clots.
Endo belly is the colloquial term for abdominal distension caused by endometriosis. Unlike the short-term bloating that sometimes accompanies your period, endo belly is much more severe, triggering physical, mental, and emotional symptoms.
It is a chronic disease associated with severe, life-impacting pain during periods, sexual intercourse, bowel movements and/or urination, chronic pelvic pain, abdominal bloating, nausea, fatigue, and sometimes depression, anxiety, and infertility.
Tampons and pads absorb blood flow but they can not absorb thick blood or menstrual blood clots, and can cause dryness and irritation.
What do periods look like with endometriosis? If a person has endometriosis, their periods may be heavier and contain clots larger than a quarter.