Clots in appearing in a woman's period blood in most cases is no reason for alarm. A woman's body is constantly going through changes, and these changes may cause the menstrual cycle to change along with it. However abnormally large blood clots or clots accompanied with pain should be investigated by a physician promptly.
What Causes Menstrual Blood to Clot?
The Merck Manual states that during a normal menstrual period, women bleed between three to seven days. During this time, the blood flow can be light, medium or heavy and may be accompanied by blood clots. Although the majority of women who complain of blood clots have heavy menstrual cycles, blood clots can occur even in women with light cycles. In a normal menstrual flow, the body releases anticoagulants to keep the blood from clotting. However, if the blood flow is extremely heavy or strong, the body doesn't have enough time to send out these anticoagulants, so the blood clots. Passing blood clots the size of a quarter or larger is not normal.
What Conditions Cause Blood Clots?
According to Women's Health Zone, fluctuations in estrogen or progesterone levels can cause the menstrual cycle to become heavier or the uterine lining to shed quicker, which causes the blood to clot. This process typically occurs in women with hormonal problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome, during perimenopause or even after child birth.
Also, during pregnancy the uterus enlarges as the child grows, but then shrinks down to its normal size after birth. In some cases, the shrinkage doesn't happen straight away, which causes the menstrual blood to pool inside of the uterus and clot.
Endometriosis, once developed, causes abnormal blood clotting during menstruation, as stated by Women's Health Zone. Endometriosis is a condition that causes the uterine lining to grow outside of the uterus. Every month in a normal period, the ovaries release estrogen and progesterone, which signal to the uterus to shed its lining. During this time, the endometrial tissue swells and bleeds. In women with endometriosis, this includes tissue that has grown outside of the uterus. This condition causes some women to have blood clotting due to excessive or heavy bleeding.
Identification
Blood clots found in menstrual blood are gelatinous masses that are red to deep purple in color. Abnormal blood clots are the size of a quarter or larger, and they may or may not accompany a heavy flow.
Treatment
Treating blood clots consists of treating the condition that causes them. In some cases, doctors choose to monitor the situation for a few cycles to see if it reverts back to normal. However, if the cause is a hormonal condition, the physician may prescribe low-dose birth control pills or hormone replacements, to restore the natural condition of the menstrual cycle. Surgery and blood-thinning medications are prescribed in serious cases.
Prevention
There really is no way to prevent menstrual blood clotting, since there is no way to tell when it will occur. However, there are ways to promote a normal menstrual cycle by exercising regularly, eating healthy foods, drinking plenty of water and not smoking.
