Blood clots are the way the body stops bleeding when an artery or vein is damaged within your body or on your skin. Sometimes, however, clots form when they aren't needed. These clots are considered abnormal, and blood clots during periods fall into this category. Menstrual blood clots are one sign of abnormally heavy periods, also called menorrhagia.
Symptoms of Heavy Periods
According to the University of Virginia Health System, menstrual bleeding is considered excessive when it soaks through one sanitary napkin or tampon every hour. Another sign of menorrhagia is a period that lasts longer than seven days. Besides being a nuisance, the bleeding can ruin clothes and interrupt daily activities. If you experience these symptoms of menorrhagia, discussing them with your health care provider is a good idea. She can help you understand possible causes and how to manage the condition.
Causes of Heavy Periods
According to Columbia University Health Services, menorrhagia is usually caused by an imbalance in hormones or by fibroids in the uterus. Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that sometimes appear in women near the end of their reproductive years. Taking fish oil capsules or anti-inflammatory medicines, such as aspirin, can also cause heavy periods because they thin the blood. Less common causes include pelvic inflammatory disease, an abnormal pregnancy, infection, thyroid dysfunction or reproductive cancers.
Diagnosis of Heavy Periods
If your gynecologist suspects you have menorrhagia, she may perform one or more procedures to rule out other disorders with your period. You may undergo a blood test, Pap smear, a biopsy---where a small bit of tissue is removed from your uterus---an ultrasound or a hysteroscopy---where an instrument called a hysteroscope is used to view your cervix and uterus.
Treatment for Heavy Periods
After taking your medical history, age and overall health into account, your health care provider will determine the best treatment for your menorrhagia. This may include ibuprofen to reduce cramping and the amount of blood expelled, iron supplements to help the body replace lost red blood cells, oral contraceptives that can make periods lighter, or progesterone to treat a hormone imbalance. The progesterone can be administered in a shot or through the use of a progestin-containing intrauterine device (IUD). More invasive treatments for bleeding that doesn't respond to medications include a hysterectomy, which is an operation performed to remove the uterus; endometrial ablation, where the lining of the uterus is destroyed; an endometrial resection, where the lining of the uterus is removed; or a dilation and curettage, where the lining of the uterus is scraped.
