The process in which there is a considerable amount of discharge via human female vagina is known as menstruation. The cellular debris and break down of egg as well as uterine walls occur during this process. The normal interval of this period is 5-7 days and occurs every month from the onset of puberty till the menopause. However when a female conceives or we can say she gets pregnant, the menstruation will stop to increase the vascularity of the uterus for nourishing the embryo.
It is generally considered that the flow that occurs during menstruation also tells a lot about women’s health. Generally, a menstrual blood is variable in its color as well as its consistency and is considered absolutely normal for a female as well if the flow of blood occurs for 2-3 days only provided that menstruation is regular and there are no apparent problems. Sometimes, the thickness and viscosity of the blood that flows during menstruation indentifies some underlying health issues. Period blood clots are important and must be taken seriously.
The general problem is when most of the female feel awkward to discuss the problems and the conditions persist for a longer time with ultimate harm to the body. Hence it is always recommended to seek medical attention if you suffer from irregular menstruation or variation in the consistency of the flow.
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The Mechanism of Menstruation:
Every month, the uterus of female is thickened to increase the blood supply (vascularity) so that the developing embryo gets complete nourishment, in short we can say that the uterus is thickened to make it ready for pregnancy, but in case when there is no fertilization, the uterine linings undergo a break down, during this time, the breakdown of uterine linings and blood is discharged. It is also estimated that almost 4-12 tablespoons of blood is lost during each cycle.
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Why Causes the Appearance of Period Blood Clots?
Among many of the female, it is a matter of common observation to get blood clots along with a blood flow. It is always a concern for females to find out whether these clots are normal or they are markers of some underlying health issues. Keeping in general, it is a problem faced by many females during menstruation. If we consult some website, we will find a lot of controversy regarding this, some of the authors claims it to be absolutely normal on the other hand according to some experts it might be some pathological issue. Some hormonal problems like imbalance of hormones which result in coagulation disorders can cause blood clots to appear during menstruation. One thing is keep in mind, though normal but sometimes, the blood clots during period can be a serious concern.
How Do these Clots Appear During Menstruation?
Every month, the human female’s uterus is supplied with additional blood vessels to increase the vascularity, this is done to ensure the development of potential embryo, but when female fails to conceive, the uterine linings undergo a breakdown and along with uterine linings which are broken down there is always a large amount of blood which is discharged to clean up the uterus. In some cases, the grumes are also seen during menstruation and monthly bleeding. If these grumes are upto 4 cm in size they are considered normal, the large blood clots during period however need to be discussed with the health care provider. These grumes are caused when anticoagulants in the body fail to clot the blood flow (as it is quite abundant), a small part of the blood is seen to undergo coagulation inside the vagina thereby giving rise to some grumes which are normal and are seen on the sanitary pads. As they are involved in the significant loss of blood, the proper monitoring is much needed. As the blood clot periods generally become painful.
How Can I Keep a Record of My Menstrual Flow?
Keep a record of your menstrual flow as any flow above 80 grams in a day can be disastrous and might cause anemia and other health concerns. Have you ever considered a way to keep an eye on the amount of menstrual flow? Keep a record of weight difference between a clean and used sanitary pad, keep the result in a record book, and add all the figures you get as long as discharge happens. In case of heavy bleeding do consult your health care provider so that immediate steps are taken to ensure health.
Is Blood Clotting During Pregnancy Dangerous?
In pregnancy, there are generally three trimester, the first trimester is usually sensitive most phase and any clot if appears during first trimester (month 1-3) might be an indication of miscarriage. Sometimes, the fertilized egg (the zygote) is rejected is discharged along with the flow of blood in the form of larger clots. It has been confirmed by certain gynecologists that it is not possible to save pregnancy if it happens. Hence it is always needed to keep an eye on the bleeding if it occurs during pregnancy and seek immediate medical attention.
What are the General Causes of Blood Clots During Period?
In this article we shall study about the causes of blood clots during menstruation and how to deal with these issues. There can be number of causes of clots during menstruation and some of them cannot be ignored and one has to consult a physician to get proper treatment. Here are some main causes of blood clots which occur during menstruation.
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Deficiency of Iron or anemia:
The deficiency of iron in the body is seen to be associated with excessive clotting of blood. Since Iron is an essential element for blood cells and hemoglobin (a red pigment of red blood cells) is made of iron. If you feel suspect for the deficiency of Iron, go for a blood test and determine the level of hemoglobin in the blood, the same test must be shown to doctor in case of deficiency, he will advise some iron rich supplements. The deficiency of Iron must be considered serious as it can lead to anemia (the general deficiency of blood in the body) which itself is a fatal condition at extreme cases. Blood clot during period can also occur due to iron deficiency.
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Mineral deficiency:
The process of clotting of blood is significant in our body and the clots rescue the body from excessive loss of the blood, the process of clot formation is known as thrombosis. There are some vitamins which are needed significantly during thrombosis. These include vitamin C, vitamin K and Vitamin P. the deficiency of such vitamins can also result in clotting disorders. There are certain amino acids like homocystine, the excess of such substances in the body can also result in high clot formation. If this is the case, you must see your doctor. Blood clot periods can be due to mineral deficiency as well. There are certain macro and micro nutrients in the form of minerals which are essential for healthy body functioning, calcium is one of them, any deficiency of such minerals can also result in clotting disorders and as a result of it, you might see large blood clots during period.
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Intrauterine medical procedures:
After females encounter some gynecological problems like miscarriages, abortions which need some surgical manipulations in the uterus, there is always a chance of more bleeding as an after effect of such procedures.
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Endometriosis:
When a woman is near to an age of menopause or around 40-50, the condition is generally diagnosed; the main cause of it is traumas during surgical processes during delivery, c-section, abortion, dilation and curettage etc. The endrometrial outgrowth which are normally termed as lesions keep on increasing in number and give rise to overactive cellular growth in uterus as well as hyperplasia. If you are suffering from high and profuse menstrual flow along with painful uterine contractions the condition is called adenomyosis. The blood clots of coagulums are generally high under this condition along with frequent abdominal pains. The condition needs to be discussed immediately with the doctor as the over-growth of such masses can be malignant as well. Large blood clots during period are seen in the patients of endometriosis.
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Myoma:
These are characterized by tumors which are generally benign and are dependent on hormones. The cells keep on dividing inside the uterine area, this situation results in abnormal blood flow with severe pain in lower abdomen, the victim of this condition might also feel pain while urination. A heavy period with clots is seen on the sanitary pads and hence it is always recommended to seek immediate medical attention.
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Diseases and conditions which directly affect uterus:
Endometrial hyperplasia and polyposis are conditions which are included in this. An increased growth of cells in the uterus is known as hyperplasia while the formation of polyps in the uterus is known as polyposis, these both conditions are dreadful and you need to consult a specialist for proper and in time treatment. The females suffering from these conditions normally experience abnormal bleeding during menstruation along with larger blood clots containing proliferated uterine cells. Hence we can say, heavy period with clots are something which you cannot ignore simply.
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Abnormal development of uterus:
There are some conditions where women experience some inherited or congenital chromosomal abnormalities, especially with the partition wall of uterus. If the pregnant mother is a chain smoker, drug addict, alcoholic or is on certain other medication, the abnormality is likely to be passed on to the growing baby inside her womb. It is therefore recommended, not to use any medication unless prescribed by the doctor during pregnancy. The abnormalities in the uterus inhibit the discharge of blood and debris during menstruation and allow it to form clots in the womb.
Is it Normal to Have Blood Clots During Menstrual Flow?
As we have studied the underlying causes of clots which usually appear during menstruation. It is to keep in a record that not all clots are reason to worry. If you are getting normal periods, at regular interval of time which is not much painful, it is normal to witness some clots and there is no way to worry.
When should I consult doctor?
If the blood flow is considerably high during menstruation accompanied by larger and frequent clots along with extreme pain, it is always recommended to consult a doctor to get proper medical treatment. You can also go for blood test and coagulation test after your periods along with ultrasounds to find out the cause of larger and frequent blood clot during period. It is always a safer statement that a menstruation depict the health of female, a healthy menstruation means a good physiology while any abnormality in menstruation might be a maker of any underlying ailment.
Can Hormonal Imbalance Cause Blood Clots During Periods?
In this article, we have studied seven main causes of clots which may occur during menstruation and can be alarming. It is also important to mention that one of the main causes of menstrual abnormality is the hormonal imbalance. There are two main hormones which keep on working together to make a healthy menstrual cycle; these hormones are estrogen and progesterone. Any imbalance of this hormone is likely to alter all the cycle. Estrogen works to increase the vascularity of uterus while progesterone helps to repair uterine linings. Both these hormones regulate the human female menstruation process. Any disturbance or imbalance of these hormones can cause direct impact on the length, amount and consistency of the menstrual flow. When the balance of estrogen and progesterone is disturbed, it might result in increase blood flow towards uterus which can ultimately cause more bleeding and more appearance of clots. This is one of the key reasons for Period blood clots.
How Can I find Whether My Hormones Are Balanced or There is Something Wrong?
It is recommended to get hormone test if you are experiencing heavy bleeding or clots all of a sudden during menstrual cycle. Also if there is an imbalance of hormone as per test report, the doctor will prescribe some medicine to get you over this situation.
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