Menstruation With Clots – What Is Happening?

A cause for concern among women, whether due to its absence or excessive presence, menstruation is always a reason for commotion. Menstruation with clots is even more alarming! Many times, we get scared seeing something like that coming out of us. Tell me, isn’t it true? I myself have been taken aback by the size and number of clots that came out during my period with clots.

Clots During Menstruation?

Menstruation with clots? Yes! That is the name given to menstruation with pieces. While for some women it is very common, for others it may not be, and it can be a cause for concern exactly because it’s an unusual event.

This menstruation with clots or menstruation with pieces has an explanation, and it’s quite simple to understand why these alarming fragments end up in the toilet¹. Although they look like pieces of liver, the clots from menstruation with pieces are just the endometrium breaking down.

IMPORTANT: Menstruation with clots can indicate some structural alteration, such as a fibroid, polyp, or some hormonal imbalance. It is advisable to talk to a gynecologist and undergo examinations for a correct diagnosis. If there is nothing abnormal, then it may just be your menstrual flow.

These clots are the same menstrual blood we’re used to seeing. But due to a hormonal alteration, this time, they’re coming out as chunks. Menstruation with pieces can also be of a darker color, a darker shade of red, or even the type known as coffee ground-colored menstruation.

What Causes Menstruation With Chunks?

A very heavy menstrual flow with clots may have a structural cause, an anatomical change (for example, a polyp, fibroid), or some hormonal imbalance that causes one hormone to be higher than another, resulting in increased flow. With elevated estrogen in the body, for instance, the coagulation of the endometrium can change². This coagulation makes the endometrium firmer and harder to break down.

The endometrium rich in progesterone tends to flow out as liquid, bright red blood. When the endometrium contains excessive estrogen, it tends to be more rigid. So, we can say that menstruation with chunks is nothing more than a drop in progesterone.

Are Clots Dangerous?

Clotted menstruation is not necessarily a problem, unless there are so many clots that they cause discomfort or if it’s an excessively heavy period.

Of course, a rich, thick, and dense endometrium can sometimes mean a pregnancy that did not progress, but most of the time it simply means that the woman had a strong estrogenic stimulus that made it thick. It may also be that after ovulation, the endometrium became secretory and thickened even more, contributing to the appearance of menstruation with pieces at the end of the cycle.

A cycle with menstruation in pieces can mean a bodily cleansing or a temporary hormonal change, but if you’ve never had a cycle like this and suddenly begin to, it’s best to talk to your doctor and investigate what might be going on behind all that blood.

Some women may develop anemia due to very heavy menstruation and recurring heavy flows³. If you are feeling weak or bothered by the amount of blood with clots, it may be a good idea to speak with a doctor. Sometimes it’s necessary to intervene with medications to regulate hormone levels, as well as use B-complex vitamins.

Remember: for any changes in your cycle, talk to your trusted doctor. Make your gynecologist your best friend.

Readers’ Questions:

What could menstruation with chunks mean?

Most changes in menstrual consistency and color are due to hormonal imbalances. However, it can also indicate problems like anemia, fibroids, polyps, post-abortion, a sign of endometriosis, or even a reaction after a gynecological exam. Only a gynecologist can evaluate and identify the cause. So if it is persistent and unusual, see your doctor.

How to treat menstruation with clots?

The cause must be investigated and treated. If there is nothing abnormal, treatment with hormonal contraceptives may be chosen to decrease the menstrual flow and improve quality of life. Most of the time, menstruation with clots may not indicate any health problem, but it can suggest hormonal or anatomical changes, and if there was a menstrual delay after unprotected sexual intercourse, there is also the possibility of a miscarriage.

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