You may be wondering what to do if you notice blood clots during your period? Noticing clots in your menstrual blood can be worrisome, especially if they occur every once in a while. In most cases, however, menstrual clots are not necessarily a cause for concern. Find out why and how they form, and when to be concerned.

What does a blood clot look like?

Menstrual blood clots are a mixture of blood cells, tissue from the lining of the uterus, and proteins in the blood that help regulate blood flow. They are usually thick, lumpy, or stringy in texture and can vary in shape and color. You may encounter bright red menstrual clots, but they can also be dark red or almost black in color .

How blood clots form

When the uterine lining sheds a large amount of blood during menstruation and the blood accumulates in the uterus or vagina, it begins to clot. The thick texture of menstrual clots helps prevent too much blood from leaking out at once. This is why menstrual clots usually occur with a heavier flow. This is typical for the first 2-3 days of menstruation, when women's periods tend to be the heaviest.

Blood clots in themselves are not a cause for concern; they are a natural part of the body's defense mechanism .

"The dense texture of a menstrual clot helps prevent too much blood from leaking at once."

When to pay attention

Although blood clots during menstruation are normal and every woman may experience them from time to time, their occurrence can sometimes indicate a certain health problem and should not be ignored. Be careful if in your case blood clots:

• Clots are larger than about 2.5 cm
• Clots appear very often (throughout the entire menstrual period)
• Clots occur with very heavy blood flow and you need to change your menstrual aids at least every 1-2 hours or use double menstrual protection (e.g. a tampon and a sanitary napkin at the same time)
• Clots occur with significant pain

If you experience larger clots for at least several menstrual cycles in a row, let your gynecologist know as soon as possible so that you can detect any health problems in time.

Clots may be related to the following medical conditions :

• Endometriosis , a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterine area. Symptoms of endometriosis typically include heavy and painful menstruation, painful intercourse, chronic fatigue, and fertility problems.
• Adenomyosis , a condition in which the uterine lining grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, which can then become thicker and lead to heavier flow during menstruation.
• Some medications can also affect the course of menstruation.