If You're Seeing Big, Jelly-Like Blood Clots They show up when your flow is very heavy, and the natural anticoagulants that normally break down clots before they leave your body can't keep up with how fast you're shedding your uterine lining.
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.
But those jelly-like blobs that appear during your period are a bit different than other types of blood clots. They include a mix of “various kinds of tissue products like coagulated blood, dead cells, and the top layer of the endometrium of the uterus—the lining,” says Adeeti Gupta, M.D., founder of Walk In GYN Care.
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.
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.
Clots can be bright in color, or a darker, deeper red. More sizeable clots may look black. Menstrual blood begins to appear darker and more brown toward the end of each period as the blood is older and leaving the body less quickly.
What does a decidual cast look like? A decidual cast is usually red or pink. It's made up of tissue, mucus and blood and looks “fleshy” like a piece of raw red meat. It may look similar to a clot you'd see during your period, except it's much larger and has a slightly different texture.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Another condition that can cause heavy clots and bleeding during your cycle, PCOS, is a common hormone imbalance. Follicles form on the ovaries, which fail to release eggs regularly, resulting in irregular periods.
If you notice it only when wiping or can easily absorb any light bleeding with a pantyliner (or even just underwear), it's spotting. If you need a pad or tampon to absorb bleeding between periods, it generally wouldn't be considered spotting.
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.
It is not always possible to tell the difference. Signs that a person may be experiencing pregnancy loss, as opposed to menstruation, include: Lower abdominal cramping: Cramps are also common with periods, but during pregnancy loss, there may be strong muscle contractions and pain in the lower back and pelvis.
One of the most common symptoms for women with fibroids is heavy or abnormal bleeding, which is known as menorrhagia. This happens when a fibroid has grown large enough to block blood flow during menstruation. When the blood passes the fibroid, it may be brown because it is older and has oxidized.
You will typically have clots the size of a quarter during your period.
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.
Blood that occurs due to spotting may be red, pink, or brown. People with more advanced stages of endometriosis may have ovarian cysts. These cysts, also known as endometriomas or chocolate cysts, contain old blood. If the endometriomas rupture, they can leak dark brown, bloody fluid into the pelvis.
Untreated endometriosis can cause significant pain, bloating, excess menstrual bleeding, and digestive distress. Over time, it can also affect a person's fertility. When endometriosis tissue grows outside the uterus, it can affect other organs — especially the ovaries and reproductive structures.
Other Symptoms: Pain and menstrual irregularities are some of the most common symptoms. Women with endometriosis may also suffer diarrhea, constipation, nausea, abdominal fullness, cramping, and unexplained infertility.
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.
In reality, there's no proven way to stop periods immediately once they have started. However, certain strategies and medications can help lighten your menstrual flow and relieve period-related symptoms. This can help you feel more comfortable and free during your periods.