Blood Clots During Period

Menstruation is a very important stage in any girl's life. It is considered as one of the most important sign of a girl turning into a woman. What exactly is menstruation or period? Before understanding what a period is, it is important to first understand the female reproductive system. A woman's reproductive system consists of two ovaries, uterus, and the vagina. The ovaries contain eggs which mature at a certain age, due to certain hormones that circulate in the bloodstream. When the egg matures, it bursts and travels downs through the fallopian tube into the uterus. Now, if the woman becomes pregnant, the egg fertilizes in the uterus, and if she does not become pregnant, there are hormonal changes which cause the lining of the uterus (endometrium ) to slip away, causing menstruation.

Causes of Blood Clots

Hormonal Changes
Hormones called estrogen and progesterone, are responsible for the production and shedding of the uterine lining. If this balance is disturbed, blood clots can be formed. The main reasons of hormonal changes and hormonal imbalance in young women are given below:

Enlarged Uterus
The uterus enlarges during pregnancy so that it becomes easy to accommodate the child. After pregnancy, the uterus shrinks back to the normal size. However, it may not happen in some cases. At such times, blood gets collected and forms a clot before it is released from the body, and that is when you see blood clots during menstrual cycle.

Endometriosis
Endometriosis is another reason that can cause hormonal changes. This is a medical condition which occurs due to the wrong growth of a tissue. This tissue is supposed to form on the lining of the uterus, but if it grows inside or any other place, it results in heavy bleeding and blood clots. Endometriosis should be treated by a physician only.

Side Effects
If you are undergoing some medical treatment, specially if the prescribed medicines are steroids, than you can experience blood clots during your period. Steroids also cause weight gain, which is another reason for these clots.

These were the hormonal changes that are responsible for blood clot during period. Besides these, there are some other reasons which are given further.

Fibroids
Fibroids are tumors which are non-cancerous and grow in the womb. A woman having uterine fibroids can experience blood clots during menstruation. Heavy flow is also seen along with blood clots. Premenstrual syndrome can also be one of the reasons.

Miscarriage
Women who have had a miscarriage in the past, may pass blood clots or gray clumps of tissues from the vagina. The women with a history of miscarriage should immediately consult a doctor if they notice these symptoms, during the next pregnancy.

Heavy Periods
A heavy flow can also be one of the reasons for blood clots during periods. A woman's body has high anti-clotting ability, but during heavy periods, this ability is used up, and this results in clots.

Quarter-sized or small blood clots are no reason to worry about. But if they are bigger than that, consult your doctor immediately.