Expect your doctor to do a pelvic exam. They may also want to do a blood test, a pap test or an ultrasound during your visit. After an exam and testing, your doctor may prescribe the following based on the results, how severe the clots are and your other symptoms:. Overall, Dr. Passing blood clots during your period can be alarming. But if you experience golf-ball-sized clots, it may be time to see a doctor.
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Endometriosis is a condition that causes the tissues of the uterine lining to grow outside of the uterus. This abnormality can lead to several symptoms, which may be worse around the time of menstruation. This can make the endometrial lining and uterine wall much thicker, which can lead to a much heavier flow during a period.
If the levels of specific hormones become unbalanced, many issues can occur, including heavy menstruation or clotting. During a miscarriage, or pregnancy loss, a person will usually pass a number of large clots, depending on the stage of the pregnancy. Pregnancy loss can sometimes occur before a person knows that they are pregnant, so they may mistake an early miscarriage for a regular menstrual cycle.
An enlarged uterus can also be due to structural issues, such as fibroids. There will be additional space for the blood to pool in, which could lead to further clotting before it exits the body. Some bleeding disorders may be responsible for heavy menstrual flow, as they can affect the coagulation proteins that the uterine lining needs to stop menstrual bleeding.
People who are experiencing very heavy menstrual bleeding or have clots larger than a quarter in their menstrual blood should see a doctor, especially if they have any of the signs or symptoms of the conditions mentioned above. A person with heavy menstruation may have to change their pad, tampon, or menstrual cup more than once every 2 hours for part of their period. They may also need two pads at a time and may miss out on everyday activities due to their menstrual flow. People with very heavy periods have a higher risk of iron-deficiency anemia.
Anemia occurs when there are fewer red blood cells in the body than usual. Low iron levels can cause this because the body needs iron to make new healthy blood cells.
To diagnose the cause of abnormal menstrual clots, a doctor may ask about signs and symptoms, order blood or imaging tests, carry out a physical examination, or a combination of these.
Doctors may advise taking an iron supplement if they believe that someone is losing too much blood or may be at risk of anemia. Doctors may prescribe hormonal medications to help balance the hormones and control heavy bleeding. They may suggest using or changing a birth control method.
Intrauterine devices IUDs containing progestin may reduce blood flow, and some birth control pills may also help. Doctors may recommend taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs during the period to help reduce symptoms, such as cramping, pain, and discomfort. People who prefer not to use hormone treatments may wish to try medications that control blood clotting instead.
It is best to speak to a doctor about this. However, anyone who notices a pattern of heavy flow or heavy clotting alongside other symptoms should see a doctor. There are a few different causes of abnormal menstruation. A doctor can help find effective ways to treat the underlying issues and control frequent or large menstrual clots.
Read the article in Spanish. Fibroids are tumors that grow in the uterus. It's difficult to define exactly what a heavy period is because it varies from woman to woman. Heavy for 1 woman may be normal for another. Most women will lose less than 16 teaspoons of blood 80ml during their period, with the average being around 6 to 8 teaspoons. Heavy menstrual bleeding is defined as losing 80ml or more in each period, having periods that last longer than 7 days, or both.
But it's not usually necessary to measure blood loss. Most women have a good idea of how much bleeding is normal for them during their period and can tell when this changes. In about half of women with heavy menstrual bleeding, no underlying reason is found.
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