Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNormal ClotsAbnormal ClotsWhen to See a ProviderDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Normal Clots
Abnormal Clots
When to See a Provider
Diagnosis
Treatment
What Causes Normal Period Blood Clots?
Your period starts when hormones trigger your body to shed the lining of the uterus, known as theendometrium. As the lining detaches, small blood vessels calledcapillarieswill rupture and bleed, causing your monthly flow.
In order to pass larger clots, thecervixhas to dilate, causing pain that can sometimes be intense. This partially explains why, if you have aheavy flow, you’re more likely to havecramping.
What Does a Normal Period Blood Clot Look Like?
A period blood clot looks like a dark red blob of blood. The clots can vary in size, but a normal blood clot is about the size of a dime.
Mixed with menstrual blood may be bits of tissue from the uterine lining. Thus, what appears to be a blood clot may actually be a clump of shed tissues or a mixture of clots and tissues. These jelly-like globs are normal and usually nothing to be concerned about.
When your menstrual flow is heavy, blood clots tend to be larger because there’s a larger amount of blood sitting in the uterus. The blood may also be thick or stringy.
Thecolor of period blood clotscan also vary. Your period may start with bright red clots due to the rapid release of blood from the uterus. When the flow is at its heaviest or fastest, it usually appears bright red. Older blood turns a dark red or even blackish color, and then it lightens up as your period starts to end.
When Menstrual Flow Is Normal and Abnormal
Abnormal Period Blood Clots
There are times when a period clot is a cause for concern. This is usually when a clot is excessively large due to heavy menstrual bleeding, previously known asmenorrhagia. Heavy menstrual bleeding refers to menstrual bleeding that lasts more than seven days or when the amount of bleeding is excessive.
How Heavy Is Heavy?Your flow is considered heavy when you have to change your sanitary pad or tampon after less than two hours or you are passing clots that are the size of a quarter or larger.
How Heavy Is Heavy?
Your flow is considered heavy when you have to change your sanitary pad or tampon after less than two hours or you are passing clots that are the size of a quarter or larger.
Depending on your age and medical history, there are many conditions associated with heavy menstrual bleeding, including:
Endometriosis vs. Fibroids
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Verywell / Emily Roberts
See your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following:
How to Respond to Clots During PregnancyIf you’re pregnant and passing blood or clots of any kind, see your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room. Heavy bleeding with clots and painful cramping may be signs of miscarriage.
How to Respond to Clots During Pregnancy
If you’re pregnant and passing blood or clots of any kind, see your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room. Heavy bleeding with clots and painful cramping may be signs of miscarriage.
Can You Get Pregnant While on Your Period?
Diagnosing the Cause of Abnormal Period Blood Clots
They will also likely perform apelvic examand order tests to figure out what might be causing your blood clots.
Lab Tests and Procedure
The following lab tests and procedures may be ordered to indirectly or directly check for problems with your uterus or conditions affecting the uterus:
Blood Clots Healthcare Provider Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
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Treatment of Abnormal Period Blood Clots
The treatment of abnormal period blood clots may include iron supplements, hormone therapy, medications, and—in some cases—surgery. The treatment plan will vary based on the cause and severity of your symptoms as well as your age and plans for pregnancy.
Iron Supplements
Prolonged, heavy menstrual bleeding is a common cause of anemia. One study found that 63.4% of people with heavy menstrual bleeding also had anemia.
To treat anemia, your healthcare provider may prescribeiron supplements. Iron is the main component of hemoglobin, a protein on red blood cells that carries oxygen to cells, and, without enough of it, you can have iron-deficiency anemia.
Iron supplements will not make your period lighter, but they can help overcome fatigue and tiredness associated with heavy menstrual bleeding.
What Are the Symptoms of Anemia?
Hormonal Contraceptives
Ibuprofen
Other NSAIDs like aspirin orAleve (naproxen)do not have these effects and can increase menstrual bleeding.
Should I Take Motrin, Aleve, or Tylenol?
Hormonal Therapy
Progesterone, estrogen, or a combination of the two can help reduce bleeding. These can be found in contraceptives, but healthcare practitioners can also prescribe hormones in doses that are not tailored for birth control. This is referred to astherapeutic hormonal therapy (THT).
Hormonal Therapy or Birth Control?A difference in therapeutic hormone therapy compared to hormonal birth control is that you can still conceive while on treatment.However, it is not recommended to conceive while on hormonal therapy. Alternate/backup contraception is recommended while using these medications.
Hormonal Therapy or Birth Control?
A difference in therapeutic hormone therapy compared to hormonal birth control is that you can still conceive while on treatment.However, it is not recommended to conceive while on hormonal therapy. Alternate/backup contraception is recommended while using these medications.
Antifibrinolytic Medicine
Surgery
Surgery may be an option if you have polyps or fibroids. Your healthcare provider may also recommend surgery if conservative treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding fail to provide relief.
Surgical options include:
Pregnancy ConsiderationsYou will no longer be able to get pregnant after undergoing a hysterectomy and will be less likely to do so after endometrial ablation. Speak with your healthcare provider about fertility-preserving treatments if you are trying or intend to get pregnant.
Pregnancy Considerations
You will no longer be able to get pregnant after undergoing a hysterectomy and will be less likely to do so after endometrial ablation. Speak with your healthcare provider about fertility-preserving treatments if you are trying or intend to get pregnant.
Summary
In general, period blood clots aren’t something to worry about. But if you have heavy menstrual bleeding, numerous clots, severe menstrual pain, and clots the size of a quarter or larger, it is important to see a healthcare provider for a diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment may include oral painkillers, iron supplements, hormonal contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, antifibrinolytic drugs, or uterine surgery.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heavy menstrual bleeding.
Herman MC, Mol BW, Bongers MY.Diagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding.Womens Health. 2016 Jan;12(1):15-20. doi:10.2217/whe.15.90
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.Hormonal causes of HMB.
Shoupe D.The progestin revolution: Progestins are arising as the dominant players in the tight interlink between contraceptives and bleeding control.Contracept Reprod Med. 2021 Jan;6(3):1-9. doi:10.1186/s40834-020-00142-5
Kocaoz S, Cirpan R, Degirmencioglu AZ.The prevalence and impacts heavy menstrual bleeding on anemia, fatigue and quality of life in women of reproductive age.Pak J Med Sci. 2019 Apr;35(2):365-370. doi:10.12669/pjms.35.2.644
Maybin JA, Critchley H.Medical management of heavy menstrual bleeding.Womens Health. 2016 Jan;12(1):27-34. doi:10.2217/whe.15.100
Dhamangaonkar PC, Anuradha K, Saxena A.Levonorgestrel intrauterine system (Mirena): An emerging tool for conservative treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding.J Midlife Health. 2015 Mar;6(1):26-30. doi:10.4103/0976-7800.153615
Potter J, Sari Z, Lindblad AJ.NSAIDs for heavy menstrual bleeding.Can Fam Physician. 2021;67(8):598. doi:10.46747/cfp.6708598
James AH.Heavy menstrual bleeding: work-up and management.Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program.2016 Dec;1(1):236-242. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2016.1.236
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