Menstruation is one of those things that just becomes part of life for most women. It is also often a big relief or big disappointment when it comes – depending on whether or not you want to fall pregnant. However, sometimes it can actually cause a big fright. Have you ever heard of white tissue coming out along with your usual menstruation blood?
This is something that can happen to most women. So what exactly is it? Many will see white tissue and think that perhaps they were pregnant and had a miscarriage. However, this isn’t normally the case. Additionally, it can happen to women who can’t have fallen pregnant.
To understand this phenomenon, it’s important to understand what your menstrual period is.
What are the characteristics of menstrual blood?
Menstruation is the breaking down of your endometrium after it has built up in preparation for a fertilized embryo. The blood should be a fresh, bright red and can contain some clots as the lining comes out in clumps rather than disintegrating fully. In the first stage of menstruation and towards the end, you can see some older, darker blood coming out.
The reason for the clots is usually to do with an imbalance in hormones. This leads to you experiencing a heavy flow and the anticoagulants in your body don’t have time to break down this lining fully. This is not really a reason for concern, however, a hormone imbalance should be explored by a gynecologist if you are trying to fall pregnant.
White tissue in menstrual blood – why it happens?
Basically, this white tissue is also part of the endometrium. It’s exactly the same as the dark, bloody clots that you get but without the coloration. In fact, while it might not be all that common, it’s completely normal and can happen to women a few times throughout their fertile life.
The endometrium is the topmost layer of the uterus and it becomes thick with blood with each cycle. There is the odd time when a section of this lining is composed of mostly white blood cells, meaning it doesn’t have the usual red coloration. If this particular section comes away and doesn’t breakdown fully, it can look like a piece of skin coming out with your menstrual period. That is all it is – nothing to be worried about.
Characteristics of this white tissue
Most women who see this white tissue think that it looks like a piece of skin, or perhaps lining of the intestine or uterus. It can also look a bit like a membrane – much like the skin you would see on a chicken thigh.
What about the pain that comes with the white tissue?
When you experience clots coming out with your menstrual period, you are usually experiencing an abnormal flow. It will either be quite light – meaning low levels of progesterone – or it will be quite heavy. When you get these hormonal imbalances, you could also experience strong cramps.
This is why most women report feeling intense pain before seeing white tissue coming out. The white tissue is not the cause of the cramps and the pain, the hormonal imbalance is.
If the pain is very intense, consult your doctor. In the appointment, be sure to tell your doctor about the white tissue you saw. Your doctor will likely be confident that this white clot is a symptom of hormonal issues rather than a problem itself.