Mixed into the menstrual blood are also bits of tissue from the uterine lining. Thus, what appears to be a blood clot may actually be a clump of endometrial cells. Or, it can be a mixture of both endometrial cells and blood clots. Dark red or blackish clots may appear during the first few days of your period when the flow is heaviest. Your period may start or end with bright red blood clots, too. This means the blood is flowing quickly and doesn't have time to darken. When your menstrual flow is heavier, blood clots tend to be bigger because there's a larger amount of blood sitting in the uterus.
In order to pass larger blood clots, the cervix has to dilate a bit, causing pain that can be quite intense. This partially explains why, if you have a heavy flow, you're more likely to have cramping. Menorrhagia refers to heavy menstrual bleeding and menstrual bleeding that lasts more than seven days. Your flow is considered heavy when you have to change your pad or tampon after less than two hours, or you are passing blood clots that are the size of a quarter or larger.
Some of these conditions include:. If you're pregnant and passing clots, see your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room. This may be a sign of a miscarriage or a potentially life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, in which the fetus has implanted outside of the uterus.
Blood clots in and of themselves aren't a medical condition, but rather a possible symptom of another underlying condition. Your healthcare provider may start trying to diagnose the cause of your blood clots by asking you some questions, such as:.
Next, your healthcare provider will do a pelvic exam. They may also want to do some tests to figure out what might be causing your blood clots. These tests may include:. Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Your treatment will depend on a number of factors, including:.
Prolonged, heavy menstrual bleeding is a common cause of anemia in women of reproductive age. In fact, one study found that Anemia can make you feel tired, weak, dizzy, and lightheaded, among other symptoms. To treat the condition, your healthcare provider may prescribe iron tablets or supplements to restore iron levels in your blood.
Iron supplementation will not make your period lighter. However, it can remedy the symptoms of anemia and help you replace healthy red blood cells.
Certain contraceptives may reduce your menstrual blood flow and control irregular bleeding. In particular, healthcare providers may suggest hormonal IUDs or birth control pills.
Two forms of oral contraceptives are used to control heavy bleeding: combination birth control and progesterone-only birth control. Norethindrone is considered the most commonly used progesterone-only oral contraceptive. That said, you may have irregular bleeding and spotting during the first six months or more. Although aspirin is another NSAID used to treat pain and inflammation, taking it can actually increase your menstrual flow.
Progesterone, estrogen, or a combination of the two can help reduce bleeding. These hormones can be prescribed as contraceptives or in doses that are not specifically tailored for contraception.
The main difference between hormonal therapy and hormonal contraceptives is that hormonal therapy preserves fertility. It is therefore the preferred option for women who are trying to conceive but would also like to control their heavy menstrual bleeding. Antifibrinolytic medicines like Lysteda tranexamic acid or Amicar aminocaproic acid can help reduce bleeding. The specific function of antifibrinolytic medication is to slow fibrinolysis—a term that refers to the process of breaking down blood clots.
Surgical treatment may be an option for you when you need to have polyps or fibroids removed. Your healthcare provider may also recommend surgery if medication isn't helping you or is contraindicated for any reason. Fibroids are abnormal growths that form in the muscle of the uterus.
They are very common and can occur in up to 80 per cent of women. Fibroids are more likely to cause symptoms if they are large, if there are many of them or if they push on your other internal organs. Some women with fibroids have very heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure or pain that interferes with their life, and some women have problems with fertility and pregnancy.
However, fibroid symptoms tend to get better after menopause. Fibroids can bulge from the inside or outside of the uterus. They can range in size from microscopic to the size of a grapefruit or even larger. The majority of fibroids are small and do not cause any symptoms at all. Uterine polyps are usually non-cancerous benign growths of the lining of the uterus the endometrium.
They can also occur at the cervix. Polyps may cause heavy menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods or bleeding after sexual intercourse. Occasionally, polyps can develop abnormalities, particularly in older women, so it is generally advised to remove them before they become dangerous. Some women may develop an abnormally thick lining of the inside surface of their uterus. This condition is called endometrial hyperplasia and it may cause heavy menstrual bleeding, irregular bleeding or a bloodstained vaginal discharge.
There are many types of benign fibroids, but submucosal fibroids fibroids that grow inside the uterine cavity are the most likely to cause heavy bleeding and large clotting. Uterine polyps that grow on the cervix or in the lining of the uterus can also be a factor in heavy clotting. If you recently started a new form of birth control and are passing large blood clots during periods, your method of birth control could be a contributing factor.
Some forms of birth control, like non-hormonal IUDs, can cause heavier-than-normal periods and clots in some women. If you have an IUD and are experiencing heavy clotting and bleeding, talk to your doctor about your symptoms to find out if this is the right form of birth control for you.
Like birth control, there are many over-the-counter and prescribed medications that can contribute to heavy periods with clots. Anti-inflammatory medications, hormonal medications like estrogen and progestins and anticoagulants can contribute to abnormal menstrual flow and bleeding.
In the initial stages of pregnancy, if there is a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy which is when a fetus begins to form outside of the uterus , it can oftentimes be confused for a heavier-than-usual period clot. An early loss of a pregnancy can lead to larger-than-usual blood clots as well. Endometriosis results when tissues that normally grow inside of your uterus develop outside of the uterine cavity. This can cause heavy clotting and bleeding during your cycle, abdominal pain and severe cramps.
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