There could be variation in consistency & color of menstrual blood all through a woman’s monthly period, and in most likelihood, it is nothing abnormal. But, there are scenarios when variations in viscidity, clotting, or color might indicate something off beam in the menstrual blood.
During a woman’s menstrual cycle, thickening of the uterine lining occurs for readying itself for conception. When a woman gets her menses, her body discards the uterine lining alongside some amounts of blood. The extent of blood & fluid loss is generally in-between four to twelve teaspoonfuls during every menstrual cycle, which on average would last for twenty-eight days.
However, they could be shorter (21 days), whereas unlucky others stayed for even thirty-five days. A regular period would last in-between 2-7 days, and the average period is 3-5 days.
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Clot Formations and Thicker Period Blood: Are they signs of some menstrual irregularity?
Several females routinely discard clots that are deep-red or darkish tone when menstruating. Mainly shedding of such nuggets occurs on the days when the period flow is the heaviest. Several clots in the menstrual blood might make it appear more dense or thick compared to expected.
A woman’s body usually emits anticoagulant substances to prevent the period from clot formation during its release. However, during heavy menses, blood is being shed out swiftly, and there is lesser time left for the anticoagulant substances to function, which leads to the formation of clots.
Also Read: How Many Pints of Blood In The Human Body
Women having excess clotting or clots formations that are bigger than a quarter in size must promptly seek medical assistance for excluding any problems which may be causal to irregular menses.
Darkish Tones and Thicker Menses Flow – Are these normal in period blood?
At times one might spot that one’s period blood is appearing darkish brown or nearly blackish during the conclusion of one’s menses. It is perfectly normal to have such a color change, and it occurs once the blood is old and not swiftly discharged by the body.
Momentary thick-type of heavy menstrual flow is not essentially a reason to be concerned about. But, consistent heavy menses justifies a visit to a specialist for checking a woman’s blood count numbers. Several females become habituated to heavy menses and consider them normal.
Also Read: Women Monthly Cycle – Tips For Greening It Up
Although over time, the excessive month-by-month blood loss makes them lifeless and leading to weariness and weakness. Women should promptly seek medical opinion if they are feeling something abnormal in their period.
Menstrual Blood Flow: What are the Causes?
Although variations in thickness & color of period blood are mostly standard, several conditions may be causal to irregular clot formations in period blood or variations in tone or consistency. Conditions that might be causal to variations comprise of:
Uterine Fibroids
Fibroids in the uterus, known as leiomyomas, are non-malignant uterine tumor formations. They are not symptomatic in all cases. Factually, mounting study data indicate that majority of the females having fibroid tumors are asymptomatic.
However, females having fibroids could spot more than usual menstrual bleeding. In case one has fibroids, one might have more clot formations present in menstrual blood than what one has noticed earlier.
Miscarriage
Women with a past miscarriage might shed bloody clots or greyish tissue clusters from the vaginal area. In case there is a possibility of one being pregnant, then ensure visiting a physician at the earliest in case one spot clotting/ excess blood loss.
Hormonal variations
A woman’s body is reliant on a subtle equilibrium of estrogen-progesterone hormones, which regulate the manufacture and discarding of the cell lining of the uterus. Once there is a disturbance in this fragile balance, it could contribute to a very thick uterine lining developing and could lead to above-average blood loss and clot formations in the period blood once the lining is discarded.
Hormonal fluctuations could arise due to varied causes inclusive of:
- Latest drastic weight variation.
- Medication-related side-effects are inclusive of steroids.
- Menopause.
Large-sized Uterus
If pregnancy-related uterine stretching occurs and the earlier size is not returning, then who might lastingly broaden it in scope. In a woman with uterine enlargement, period blood might get time accruing and clotting before the body emits it. This might additionally lead to a darkish color or thickened menses flow.
Obstruction in period blood
Any factor hindering or blocking menstrual flow from the uterine region via the cervical region and out of the vaginal area might be leading to clotting, color, or consistency of period blood. Non-malignant polyps in the uterine region might alter the menstrual flow.
Also, the menstrual flow could slacken close to women becoming menopausal, wherein the cervix canal might shrink due to plummeting estrogen levels.
Endometriosis/Adenomyosis
They are associated problems occurring when the tissue forming the lining of the uterus grows in the wrong places, which happens in endometriosis. In adenomyosis, it develops in the muscle, which constitutes the wall of the uterus.
The duo of such conditions could cause irregular menses and heavier flow. It could augment the chances of period blood issues like thickening or clot formation.
