During menstruation, large clots come out. Clots during menstruation - what is the danger of endometriosis

Menstrual blood is kept in a liquid state by activating special enzymes that prevent it from clotting in the uterus and vagina. Blood clots are allowed during menstruation, if they are small strands or pieces. The appearance of large clots may indicate pathology.

During menstruation, the endometrium is separated, which is prepared to receive a fertilized egg. The endometrium is the mucous membrane of the uterus, which is penetrated by a large number of vessels. It is intensively supplied with blood, and during menstruation its separation occurs due to blood overflow and spasm of microvessels. Therefore, menstrual flow resembles blood, but is not it in its pure form.

The concept of norm

During an average menstruation, a woman loses from 80 to 100 ml of blood. These are normal indicators and may sometimes deviate. In the first day or two your periods are heavy, but subsequently they decrease. At the same time, the discharge that appears on the pad contains not only blood. They include:

• endometrial remnants;
• cervical mucus;
• vaginal microflora;
• waste products of microflora.

Anticoagulant enzymes keep secretions in a liquid state so as not to interfere with their excretion. The chemical composition of blood is closer to venous blood, and therefore has a dark red-brown color.

With normal blood loss, iron is not excreted in large quantities. Therefore, women with good menstrual function should not develop anemia.

What do blood clots mean during menstruation?

Menstruation with small clots and mucus fits into the concept of normal. Similar discharge can be observed every cycle. Especially when using tampons, clotted blood and endometrial remains are not absorbed into them, but come out when removed.

But large blood clots during menstruation should alert you. The following conditions may be the cause.

• Bend of the uterus. The position of the uterine body can change dynamically. This happens for natural reasons - due to a full bladder and rectum. Sometimes it is associated with the peculiarities of the location of the peritoneum and ligamentous apparatus. If the uterus bends forward, the outflow of blood may be disrupted. After a while, it will coagulate and come out in the form of a huge blood clot during menstruation. In this case, cramping pain may appear: the cervix has to stretch a little to allow a blood clot to pass through.
• After abortions. During an abortion, the doctor needs to expand the cervical canal with special metal dilators. All manipulations can come back to haunt you during your first menstruation. It does not arrive on time, the bleeding is profuse or, conversely, scanty. And when the cervix spasms, the outflow of blood is disrupted, and it comes out later in the form of a dense, dark-colored clot.
• After childbirth . It takes two months or more before the onset of menstruation after childbirth. It all depends on the woman’s desire to breastfeed. But the bleeding, which should stop within the first month, sometimes suddenly intensifies, the blood turns scarlet, and large clots appear in it. This is not a sudden menstruation, but the remnants of the fetal place. This situation requires emergency assistance.
• Lost pregnancy. Sometimes a woman does not even know she is pregnant, especially if her menstrual cycle is irregular. A delay of several days ends with the release of blood clots during menstruation, similar to the liver. A miscarriage may go unnoticed, since the fertilized egg at this stage is only a few millimeters in size. But the condition is dangerous due to the possibility of massive bleeding: the uterus is not always completely emptied, and the remaining parts will not allow it to contract normally.
• Ectopic pregnancy. A fertilized egg can implant in the cavity of the fallopian tube. Such a pregnancy cannot be maintained. It ends with either tubal abortion or rupture of the fallopian tube. In the second case, the risk of internal bleeding is much higher. Some of the blood will be released through the vagina in the form of clots.
• Endometriosis. The cause of blood clots during menstruation in this case is the thickening of the endometrium in the uterus, as well as its desquamation in endometrioid foci. If adenomyosis forms, the mucous membrane grows into the muscular layer of the uterus, the structure of the organ becomes similar to a honeycomb. Each menstrual cycle they empty their bowels, but in the form of dark blood and clots.
• Intrauterine device. Intrauterine contraceptives can affect the amount of blood loss - periods lengthen and become abundant. But the spiral creates a mechanical obstacle, so blood can begin to clot in the uterus.
• Uterine abnormalities. Congenital anomalies include the intrauterine septum, which divides the organ into two parts. And also a partial septum, if the uterus has not completely fused during ontogenesis. Acquired intrauterine synechiae, which are the outcome of chronic endometritis, also disrupt the outflow of menstrual blood.
• Infection. Menstrual blood is a good breeding ground for bacteria. Therefore, by the beginning of menstruation, some women note an exacerbation of chronic inflammatory diseases. As a result of the activity of microbes, blood can clot and come out in clots.
• Climax. Decreased ovarian function leads to hormonal changes that affect overall health. In an aging body, blood clotting increases. Therefore, menstruation before the onset of menopause may have clots.
• Pathology of the coagulation system. Congenital or acquired coagulation disorders (for example, thrombophilia) not only lead to an increased risk of blood clots in the blood vessels. Sometimes blood clots during menstruation indicate a pathology of coagulation, and not the uterus.

The most dangerous thing that blood clots during menstruation can signal is a tumor of the uterus. But in this case, they can appear during the intermenstrual period. They can be jelly-like or hard, depending on the degree of coagulation. Sometimes changes in the properties of menstrual bleeding occur under the influence of stress.

5 warning signs

Periodic release of small blood clots is normal. But there are situations that require urgent medical attention. Watch for five warning signs.

1. Duration. Menstruation lasts for a suspiciously long time, and there is no tendency to reduce bleeding. If seven days have passed and the discharge does not stop, you need to be examined by a doctor.
2. Abundance. The pathology is indicated by an uncharacteristic volume of blood loss, which leads to a feeling of weakness, dizziness, and tachycardia. And also profuse bleeding, when the pad lasts no more than two hours.
3. Smell. An unpleasant odor, uncharacteristic of normal menstruation, indicates a possible infection. An additional symptom may be high temperature.
4. Abdominal pain . Drawing or sharp pain, which is accompanied by bleeding with blood clots, indicates possible internal bleeding.
5. Lineup changes. If clots appear with white streaks or purulent impurities, you should immediately consult a doctor.

An incorrectly diagnosed cause of bleeding with clots can lead to serious complications. Endometriosis often leads to infertility. And after an ectopic pregnancy, there is a high risk of losing the tube. Or adhesions form in this area, which also prevent you from getting pregnant.

If blood clots appear during menstruation, it is necessary to exclude all factors that could have a detrimental effect on reproductive health. Treatment should be prescribed by a doctor based on the causes of the pathology. Sometimes you can limit yourself to homeopathy and folk remedies, and in some cases surgical treatment may be required.

A regular menstrual cycle is the key to the health of every woman, but sometimes during absolutely normal periods unusual discharge is observed, which frightens many. These include the appearance of blood clots. They usually come out in chunks and are very disturbing to women. Usually, if you experience meat-like symptoms, you should seek medical help. Sometimes the cause of such discharge is an inflammatory process in the body or gynecological diseases.

Approximately one in three women experience discharge in the form of large pieces of blood during menstruation. They can be divided into two groups, the first of which is normal and is not accompanied by other dangerous symptoms. The second type appears due to the presence of a gynecological disease in the body.

Throughout the menstrual cycle, the inner lining of the uterus gradually becomes thicker, thus preparing for possible fertilization. If pregnancy does not occur, the endometrial layer, along with the blood, is torn off and comes out of the vagina, sometimes in the form of pieces of exfoliated endometrium, which is not a pathology.

Menstrual blood has a dark red color and a characteristic odor. Usually there are no clots present, but some women report the appearance of small pieces of blood as a monthly occurrence.

They appear when the enzymes responsible for its coagulation cannot cope with heavy discharge, so it can coagulate directly into the vagina. For this reason, pieces that look like meat come out, but in fact it is just coagulated blood. When a clot comes out of the vagina, like skin or tissue, it may just be separated endometrium.

Main symptoms

Despite the fact that discharge in the form of clots is considered normal, in most cases you need to consult a gynecologist about this. You should urgently seek medical help in the following cases:

• the size of the isolated pieces is more than 3 cm;
• simultaneously with the clots, the woman’s temperature rises;
• weakness;
• pain in the abdomen.

If during menstruation a clot comes out simultaneously with other symptoms, a pathological process may develop in the body.

Pathological changes

When a woman's periods are usually long and heavy, there is no need to worry about this. But there are other reasons for the appearance of atypical discharge.

The enzymatic system is responsible for the normal process of blood clotting in women, failures in which lead to the appearance of small clots, which changes the nature of the discharge. They contain particles that did not have time to coagulate in time. If a woman's blood clots too quickly, a clot will certainly appear during her period.

A lack of enzymes most often leads to poor coagulation and the release of meat-like pieces. Such discharge also occurs with anemia in women. If you experience weakness or high fever at the same time as clots, you should not postpone your visit to the doctor.

Presence of an intrauterine device

The intrauterine device, which is used to protect against unwanted pregnancy, also often causes bleeding in the form of pieces. After its installation, menstruation changes slightly. Clots appear due to the fact that a foreign body in the form of a spiral does not always take root well in the female body, as well as due to the rejection of a fertilized egg.

Almost always, when installing the IUD, the color, character and consistency of menstrual blood changes. A large piece also comes out due to the septum on the cervix, when the spiral does not allow the egg to attach to the walls of the uterus, and it comes out of the vagina in the form of bloody pieces. In this case, a large clot will appear every time during menstruation.

Adhesive processes

Changes in the structure of the uterine wall lead to the formation of adhesions. The uterine cavity is affected by the adhesive process and because of this, the normal menstrual cycle is disrupted. Menstruation can be quite scanty, but with the presence of clots, the size and number of which depend on the degree of development of adhesions.

Without treatment, adhesive formations often result in the absence of menstruation and infertility, so it is necessary to consult a specialist for any changes in menstrual blood.

Endometrial polyposis

When endometrial cells grow locally, polyps form. Because of them, a large clot may appear during menstruation. Endometrial polyposis is characterized by severe cutting pain. True, clots can come out at almost any time during the menstrual cycle. Discharge during polyposis increases, but its nature depends on the size of the polyps, which can separate and come out of the vagina as a clot.

Childbirth as a cause of clots

Women who have just given birth have no reason to worry, for whom heavy periods with pieces of blood are the norm. Childbirth is a complex process, which is why the female body requires a lot of effort to recover after it. After the birth of a child, excess epithelium comes out of the uterus simultaneously with blood discharge in order to best clean its cavity.

During childbirth, the uterus participates in the process of the birth of a child. It contracts intensely, and after the newborn comes the placenta. But blood clots still remain in the cavity of the female organ and then come out along with menstruation. Such discharge should not bother a woman unless it is accompanied by a rise in temperature and poor health.

Abortion

Sometimes the discharge of pieces of blood or tissue can mean termination of pregnancy. Spontaneous abortion or medical intervention leads to discharge of this kind.

Abortion

After an artificial termination of pregnancy, women will always have within ten days. In general, this is a normal phenomenon, because the body needs to cleanse itself of excess clots in the uterine cavity. Such discharge is not considered menstruation, but a kind of body response to stress after an abortion. Their duration depends on the individual health characteristics of the woman.

The color and size of bloody discharge plays an important role in this process. Very large pieces of blood, pain in the abdomen, and fever should be a reason to immediately consult a doctor. The type and amount of blood released depends on the type of abortion. During medical termination of pregnancy, heavy bleeding is observed only in the first days after taking the drugs, and then they become spotting.

Vacuum and surgical abortion are characterized by copious discharge. The presence of any additional symptoms at the same time can be life-threatening for a woman.

Miscarriages

A large blood clot in some cases means miscarriage in early pregnancy. Another characteristic sign of a miscarriage is the appearance of gray mucus with a yellow tint. Conception is interrupted for various reasons when the fertilized egg is not accepted by the body.

During menstruation, almost every woman experiences blood clots. They are often accompanied by prolonged and painful bleeding, but doctors believe that this is normal. However, when a woman experiences too strong clots during her period, this may be a sign of a gynecological disease, and let’s try to figure out how to distinguish a deviation from the norm.

Why do clots come out during menstruation?

During the menstrual cycle, the walls of the uterus thicken in preparation for fertilization. If pregnancy does not occur before menstruation, the endometrial layer is shed, which is accompanied by bleeding. During menstruation, the body loses up to 250 ml of blood, but if the blood loss is larger, then this is considered to be excess of the norm. With strong discharge, blood clots form, which are essentially small blood clots.

Causes of menstrual clots

If a large number of large clots form during menstruation, then this is a reason to contact a gynecologist. After an examination, the doctor will identify their cause, because there may be several possible pathologies:

• bend of the uterus;
• blood clots;
• uterine fibroids;
• endometriosis;
• diseases of the pelvic organs;
• abnormal development of the uterus;
• hormonal imbalance;
• blood clotting disorder.

Myoma

Myoma is a benign tumor that develops due to hormonal imbalance. Due to myomatous nodes, the area of ​​the endometrium increases, so the uterus is enlarged, and during heavy periods, clots are released, the patient experiences pain when urinating or defecating. The peak of the disease occurs at 35-50 years of age, and is usually diagnosed in women of reproductive age.

Typically, fibroids do not produce pronounced symptoms and are detected during a medical examination. Vivid symptoms mean that the size of the fibroids is large, and therefore surgical intervention is required. But there are some symptoms that should alert a woman:

1. Long and heavy periods.
2. Large blood clots with mucus.
3. Pain in the lower back and lower abdomen.
4. Dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract or urinary tract.

Endometriosis

Large blood clots can cause endometriosis, when the endometrium lining the inside of the uterus grows too much, affecting internal organs. Dense endometriosis is caused by multiple abortions, iron deficiency, obesity, hormonal disorders or genetic predisposition. The symptoms of endometriosis are so varied that they sometimes confuse even the most experienced gynecologists. However, there are also pronounced symptoms:

• pain symptoms in the lumbar girdle or lower abdomen;
• during menstruation, severe blood clots and menstrual irregularities;
• infertility;
• intoxication: vomiting, weakness, chills, sometimes fever.

Anomaly of the uterus

Heavy periods with blood clots occur if a woman has a congenital anomaly of the uterus. This disease occurs in 2% of women, and plays a decisive role in whether they can have children. Sometimes a woman with this pathology manages to conceive and give birth, but pregnancy and childbirth are accompanied by complications: miscarriages are often observed at different stages. Abnormal structures of the uterus:

• two-horned;
• saddle-shaped;
• one-horned;
• with partition;
• agenesis;
• complete doubling.

Saddle-shaped and bicornuate uteri are common. In the first case, the part of the organ under the upper arch has not a convex, but a bottom compressed inward, in which partitions are formed. With this anomaly, it is possible to carry the fetus to term, but the septum usually causes many problems. As for the bicornuate organ, it has 2 cavities that connect in the center or near the neck. Learn more about the bicornuate uterus in the video:

Pelvic organ disease

Inflammatory processes in the female pelvic organs include any combination of pelvic peritonitis, endometritis, tubo-ovarian abscess or salpingitis. Typically, these diseases are transmitted sexually, but can also be formed by microorganisms of the vaginal microflora. Inflammatory processes are diagnosed based on complaints and clinical examination. Treatment of diseases is carried out using conservative therapy, depending on the clinical form of the disease.

Blood coagulation disorder

The hemocoagulation (blood clotting) system activates fibrinogen dissolved in the blood plasma and forms firbin blood clots in the blood vessels, stopping any bleeding. Various vascular or blood diseases lead to blood clotting disorders, which manifest themselves in the form of causeless bruises, unstoppable bleeding due to injuries or heavy periods with blood clots in women.

Hormonal imbalance in the body

Hormones are produced by the ovaries, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, pancreas and thyroid gland. The combination of all hormones is responsible for women's health. If the body lacks any type of hormones, then the following deviations begin:

• disruption of the menstrual cycle, as well as blood clots and heavy discharge during menstruation;
• sudden weight loss or, conversely, excess weight;
• indigestion;
• breast swelling;
• tumor development;
• prostration.

There are many reasons for hormonal imbalance. For example, in adolescents this is a temporary physiological process associated with the development of the body. And in women, hormonal storms occur after childbirth, after a missed period or after a miscarriage, during pregnancy, at the onset of menopause or during breastfeeding. Also, hormonal imbalance can easily be caused by poor diet, bad habits or chronic fatigue.

In what cases should you visit a doctor?

If you are planning a pregnancy, then blood clots during menstruation should be a cause for concern. The appearance of clots indicates the inability of the fertilized egg to attach to the uterus. If during your period not only clots appear, but also aching pain in the lower abdomen, then you need to visit a gynecologist in any case: whether you are planning a pregnancy or not.

Treatment

Treatment of gynecological pathologies requires correct diagnosis. The examination includes MRI, ultrasound of the pelvic organs, laboratory and cytological studies. If the diagnosis does not show anything serious, the doctor will prescribe iron-containing drugs that will restore low hemoglobin levels from blood loss during menstruation. In other cases, either conservative treatment or surgical intervention is prescribed if the situation is particularly advanced.

Blood clots that appear during menstruation can be scary. If you have not noticed such phenomena in yourself before, you may ask the question, “Are blood clots dangerous during menstruation?” Only a specialist can give you a definite answer.

But before you get nervous and make an appointment with a doctor, make sure this is not an isolated incident. After all, many women can observe how small lumps of coagulated blood come out during menstruation. But only in a few cases can such a phenomenon become a symptom of the disease. If you want to make sure that everything is in order with your health, undergo a standard examination. Already at this stage, the doctor will be able to determine whether you really need to worry.

Determining the norm for such a phenomenon as menstruation is quite difficult. They can be short or long, abundant or with minimal bleeding. There are a large number of factors that influence them, so women often miss the moment of delay during pregnancy or the appearance of a gynecological disease. In this regard, it is recommended to regularly visit a gynecologist who will monitor your health and be able to determine if any abnormalities suddenly appear.

If you still haven’t found “your” specialist, then you need to seek help as soon as you discover that you have excessively heavy or unusually long periods with blood clots.

Menstruation itself is a natural process of exfoliation of the epidermis, which is located on the walls of the uterus. However, if any obstacle appears, the blood will clot without finding a way out. As for the cause of this phenomenon, it is often the bend of the uterus, which forms a natural septum.

In the case when blood clots that appear during menstruation accumulate in the resulting space, complications may arise. A specialist can easily determine this situation after an inspection. If no obstacles were found, then the doctor may suspect that you have a type of anemia.

In addition to the clots that come out during menstruation, heavy discharge is a sign of it. How can you track their volume?

To do this, you need to know the weight of the sanitary product (pad, tampon) in its pure form and its weight after use. By comparing these two numbers, you can determine the amount of your own allocations. Numbers over 80 grams per day are too large. If, during the calculations, you realize that your periods are heavy, you should go to see a doctor. It is possible that you have anemia, the causes of which lie in a lack of iron. By replenishing the missing amount of the required element, you can correct the current situation. However, your doctor should prescribe you to take iron supplements after an examination. After all, heavy periods, which contain large clots, can be a symptom of a more serious disease.

Remember that the intensity of your periods depends on the lifestyle you lead. If you are primarily in a lying or sitting position, the discharge will occur slowly. With a sharp rise or intense movement, menstruation may intensify, and this will not at all be an indicator of the presence of the disease.

Why are clots dangerous?

• If you determine that the clots that appear during menstruation are a violation of the norm, then you should listen to your feelings. You may not have noticed other symptoms that may indicate a medical condition. These special indicators include the following:
• the appearance of severe abdominal pain;
• changed color of menstruation;
• an unpleasant odor appears;

presence of bleeding.

The causes of each of these symptoms may be different, but taken together they can spell big problems for you. What should we be afraid of?

A common reason for women to visit a gynecologist is a change in the color of the discharge to brown. If you observe this at the beginning or end of menstruation, then there is no need to worry. This is within normal limits. But the appearance of brown discharge during or instead of menstruation should alert you. Perhaps this is the body's reaction to an infection or a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. The exact reasons for the changed color of menstruation can be determined by the doctor after examination. Hormone testing may be necessary to rule out hormonal imbalances.

Having brown discharge during pregnancy is also not normal. However, don't be scared and assume the worst. Perhaps you have simply developed a hematoma, which makes it possible to carry the pregnancy to term if you follow the doctor’s recommendations.

But remember that heavy discharge during pregnancy is a mandatory reason to urgently seek medical help.

Small blood clots may appear for up to a month after birth. But if after the expiration of the period they have not disappeared, the possibility of retaining the remains of the placenta inside the body should be excluded.

Clots may also appear after the installation of the “spiral”. If you notice such symptoms, you should immediately contact your doctor. Most likely, this method of contraception is not suitable for you.

It happens that after sexual intercourse a woman observes the appearance of clots during menstruation. Such a symptom may indicate the presence of erosion, but a doctor must confirm this diagnosis.

In addition to the reasons described above, clots can appear with polyps, hyperplasias and fibroids. But perhaps the most common diagnosis for the appearance of blood clots during menstruation is endometriosis.

Endometriosis

This gynecological disease is one of the most dangerous:

1. It is quite difficult to determine and make the correct diagnosis.
2. If treatment is incorrect or untimely, female infertility can become a complication. And many women are afraid of losing the opportunity to have children.

Research has shown that endometriosis is caused by disturbances in the immune and hormonal systems. In this case, the formation of large dark nodes is observed. The presence of blood clots during menstruation is one of the main symptoms of this disease. But if you find clots in yourself, you shouldn’t be scared, because for an accurate diagnosis you will need to undergo a thorough examination using modern equipment. Another indicator of the presence of this serious disease may be pain. They occur both during menstruation and after it ends.

In addition to difficulty in diagnosis, endometriosis is also characterized by difficulty in treatment. This is due to the presence of different affected areas.

To begin with, the doctor will most likely prescribe you a course that will be aimed at restoring hormonal balance. However, it often happens that such a scheme does not give the desired result. And then the need for surgical intervention arises. Its goal is to rid the body of the formed nodes. After this, the menstrual cycle is usually restored and the formation of clots stops.

Some doctors use herbal medicine in their practice. It helps prevent the appearance of clots during menstruation and reduce the amount of discharge. The most popular are decoctions of herbs such as nettle, yarrow, and cinquefoil. To achieve results, you need to start taking one of the herbs 50 grams three times a day a few days before the start of menstruation. In addition to reducing clots, such decoctions are an excellent means of preventing anemia. If for some reason the named herbs are not available to you (not on sale, you have an allergy), you can use water pepper or red viburnum.

Remember that if your condition worsens or any other unpleasant symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor immediately. Only a specialist will be able to accurately determine the cause of your poor health and prescribe effective treatment.

Possible treatment

Depending on the symptoms that concern you, your doctor will prescribe an examination. Based on the results obtained, a treatment will be prescribed that will eliminate not only the symptom itself (the appearance of clots), but also the cause of its appearance.

If the doctor detects the presence of pathologies in the uterus, he will prescribe additional tests for you (for example, hysteroscopy or hysterography). Once the diagnosis is confirmed, you will be prescribed surgical intervention to help cope with the problem.

If there are no pathologies, you may be prescribed an MRI. It will identify neoplasms in the genitourinary system. If the result shows that you do not have tumors, the doctor will prescribe a regimen for you to use gestagen-based drugs.

In cases where heavy menstruation occurs in women during menopause, they are prescribed drugs based on hormones with a high content of progesterone.

The use of monophasic contraceptives is used in case of detection of uterine fibroids. These drugs help restore the balance of hormones and reduce the amount of bleeding. In cases where this scheme is ineffective, surgery is prescribed to remove the fibroids. And in very advanced cases, it may be necessary to remove the entire uterus. However, doctors are increasingly using the embolization method. Its essence is to block blood access to the fibroid. This leads to the cessation of development and reproduction of tumor cells.

Treatment of endometriosis is complex, but with timely diagnosis it is possible, despite the fact that the disease is often asymptomatic. And if anemia is detected, the doctor prescribes iron supplements.

If clots are present and all possible diseases (pathologies) have been excluded, the doctor usually prescribes calcium gluconate or ascorutin.