If you pass blood clots during your period, you may be wondering if it is normal. Read on to see what kinds of blood clots are normal and what are not.
Do you pass blood clots during your period? Are they large or small? What color are they, bright red, purple or black? Do these clots cause pain or accompany heavy menstrual bleeding?
These are some of the questions I ask when supporting ladies in our community to harmonize their menstrual cycles.
More often than not, these women tell me that they do notice dark blood clots during their period, and that these clots are often accompanied by menstrual cramps and/or heavy bleeding.
What about you?
It can be alarming to see big, dark blood clots during menstruation. You may be asking yourself: Is it normal to pass clots? What causes this? And what can I do about it?
In this post, I’ll help address concerns you may have about clotting during your period.
Is it normal to have blood clots during your period?
To answer this question, we first need to know just what normal is. Perfect menstrual blood should have the following characteristics:
Color of the Menstrual Blood:
Normal red, not too pale and not too dark
Quantity of the Menstrual Blood:
Not too heavy and not too little, usually between 4 and 12 teaspoons each cycle
Consistency of the Menstrual Blood:
Not too thick and not too thin, without clots
This is, of course, an ideal situation. In reality, many women do not meet the criteria for perfect menstrual blood.
Blood Clots Could be Normal or Abnormal
So by the consensus of the medical community, it’s considered normal to pass blood clots during your period, as along as:
- The clots are not as big as the size of a quarter;
- The clots do not accompany severe menstrual cramps or abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding; and
- The clots do not occur in between periods or during pregnancy.
If your blood clots meet one of the criteria listed above, it’s important that you see your gynecologist and get a checkup.
What causes blood clotting during your period?
During menstruation, a woman’s body sheds the uterus lining along with blood.
To facilitate the blood flow, our bodies typically release anticoagulants to keep menstrual blood from blotting.
But when the period is heavy and blood is being expelled rapidly, there’s not enough time for anticoagulants to work, which enables clots to form.
Common causes of blood clots during periods include:
Hormonal Changes
As you know, estrogen and progesterone regulate the production and shedding of the uterine lining.
When this delicate balance is disturbed, it can lead to the development of an excessively thick uterine lining.
This thickness can contribute to more bleeding than usual. It can also cause clots in the menstrual blood when the lining is shed.
Estrogen dominance is perhaps the most common type of hormone imbalance that causes thick uterine lining and blood clotting during period.
Find out if you have any of the signs and symptoms of estrogen dominance, and learn safe and natural ways to lower your estrogen levels.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids or leiomyomas are non-malignant tumors of the uterus.
Women with uterine fibroids have increased menstrual bleeding and are also prone to pass blood clots during their period.
Endometriosis or Adenomyosis
In endometriosis, the tissue of the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, whereas in adenomyosis, it grows in the uterine muscle.
Abnormal periods with heavy blood flow can occur in both of these conditions, so can blood clots.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
In PCOS, irregular hormone levels lead to symptoms such as weight gain, abnormal hair growth, irregularities in menstruation, prolonged or heavy bleeding during menses, and the passage of blood clots during menses.
How to prevent or reduce blood clots during your period
Now that you understand the likely causes of menstrual clotting, you can take steps to address these root causes.
And when you do, you’ll not only take care of the blood clotting during your period, but also take care of the accompanying period pain, heavy menstrual bleeding and PMS.
Here are some tips:
1) Keep warm during menstruation.
2) Avoid exposing yourself to cold, damp environments.
This may include swimming, wearing midriffs, or sitting on a cold or wet floor during menstruation.
3) Avoid eating cold and raw foods during your period.
Coldness constricts blood vessels, which can cause the formation of blood clots or make them worse.
Personally, I also love cuddling up with a cozy microwavable warmer.
4) Reduce stress and relax.
Stress and unpleasant moods tense up the uterus and inhibit a smooth blood flow. So it’s very important that you keep yourself relaxed and calm during menstruation.
5) Try herbs.
Cramp Bark exact is known to relaxes uterine muscles, help pass blood clots, and reduce menstrual cramps.
And if you like tea, try Traditional Medicine’s Healthy Cycle Tea, a blend of raspberry, nettle, angelica root, thistle and cramp bark that support healthy menstruation.
6) Take Fish Oil and Vitamin E Supplements.
Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E are anticoagulants, which means that they can help prevent and reduce the formation of blood clots.
7) Eat foods with high amounts of aspirin-like substances called salicylates.
Salicylates is a natural blood thinner, which can be found in many spices, fruits and nuts.
Herbs and spices high in salicylates include:
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Turmeric
- Cinnamon
- Curry powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Paprika
- Thyme
- Dill
- Oregano
- Licorice
- Peppermint
Fruits high in salicylates include:
- Raisins
- Prunes
- Cherries
- Cranberries
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Strawberries
- Tangerines
- Oranges
Other substances high in salicylates:
- Honey
- Green tea
- Vinegar
- Wine
- Cider
8) Rebalance your hormones.
Since estrogen dominance is a primary cause of heavy menstrual bleeding and blood clotting during period, it’s important to address the underlying causes of high estrogen, and learn natural ways to lower estrogen dominance and increase progesterone.
I hope you find the information helpful. Please let me know if I’ve addressed your concerns, and if you have any further questions.
To reduce blood clots and heavy menstrual bleeding, it’s important to address both the symptoms and the underlying causes of hormonal imbalances.
Cypress Oil (reduce heavy menstrual bleeding)
Learn how to give yourself a cypress oil massage
Reduce Estrogen Dominance
Liver Cleanse Detox and Repair Formula (support liver functions)
Dim Plus (improve estrogen metabolism)
Amazing Grass Super Foods (clear excess estrogen and alkalize the body)
Boost Progesterone
Chasteberry (proven to help treat low progesterone and regulate menstrual cycles in more than 60 years of clinical research, including 5 randomized trials)
Vitamin B6 (one of the best vitamins to boost progesterone)
Progesterone Cream (bio-identical hormonal support)
Support Adrenal and Thyroid Functions
Adrenal Health Daily Support (promote overall hormone balance)
Thyroid Support Complex (support energy and metabolism)
Balance Nutrition
Once Daily Organic Whole Food Vitamin Supplement (provide essential nutrients for health and hormone balance)
Liquid Iron (support healthy blood)
Omega 3 Fish Oil (reduce inflammation and promote overall health)
Recommended Reading
The Hormone Cure, by Dr. Sara Gottfried
Cooking for Hormone Balance, by Magdalena Wszelaki
Hii … m surfing from irregular period. Sometime it’s cones early sometime late. I can’t understand what to do. M trying to conceive but not successful. I don’t have thyroid but I don’t know why m not conceived. Plz help me😣😣😣😣
Hi Kamal, irregular periods are often a result of irregular ovulation. Check out these essential ovulation vitamins and make sure you have all of them in your diet. Also, you may want to try vitex (chasteberry). It’s the top natural remedy for irregular periods.
hello I saw menstruation yesterday then today it changed to brown but after taking hot water it changed back to red again what does it mean
Hi Nwajiaku, it’s normal to have brown bleeding at the beginning or end of the period. When the blood is brown, it means that it’s not fresh and has been inside for a while. Noting to worry about my dear.
Hlo mam..from 2 months..the menstural blood came with only clots not in flow like running…can u tell me why it happened ?
Hi Gurpreekaur, so your menstrual blood consisted of only clots in the past two cycles. Were they big clots? Did you have cramps? In either case, I recommend that you see your gynecologist to get a checkup. This will help rule out other more serious conditions such as fibroids or endometriosis. Blood clots are typically a result of blood stagnation. So we need to find out what causes the stagnation in the first place. Is it structural or medical, or due to diet or coldness?
I took depo family planning injection two months ago and I have been bleeding since then with large blood clots. What do I do to stop it?
Hi Doris, has your bleeding with clots stopped? It’s important to visit your gynecologist and get a check up. Meanwhile, try to do an abdominal massage with cypress oil. It’s a natural remedy that can help reduce heavy menstrual bleeding.
Thanks for the teachings now I know wat to do during and after my menstrual cycle.
Hi my periods last 7 days the first two days I have a bleed bt after the two days they start playing up by stopping and then coming. I also have black colour blood clots in my period which cause me a lot Of cramping and pain. I have been suffering from period pains for many many years, they come late or early and I dnt always get a proper bleed. Can you give me any advise which could help. Thank you x
Hi Shamania, you mentioned that your period starts and stops and causes a lot of cramps. These symptoms may suggest some kind of blood stagnation. Try to give yourself massages, keep your belly warm, and do some pelvic exercises to get the blood flowing. Also check out these 10 simple natural remedies for period cramps.
Thank you so much for this information.
Love you jing
My period begin with a spotting for a week then comes heavy then normal.and to the end of it its dark what causes that…(It last for 5 days)
The info was quite useful nd informative
Thx
Hi I have been having this for a while its really bad. I have really bad cramps and their is lots of blood. And i really need halp im worried. Please reply and tell me what to do.
Hi Tianna, heavy menstrual bleeding can be serious. So definitely see your gynecologist to get it checked out. Meanwhile, try abdominal massages with cypress oil. It’s a natural remedy that can help reduce heavy menstrual bleeding. Also check out these 10 simple natural remedies for period cramps.
How to thicken endometrial lining?
Am 27 yrs I see my period to be black for like 3to 4 months now, it’s not flowing well and does not last for more than 2 to 3 days with severe menstrual pain.please advice me on what to do.
Increased bleeding during periods may due to many factors like harmonal disturbances or local factors like pid,,endometriosis,fibroid,tuberculosis ,polyps, endometrial hyperplasia,,anovulatory bleeding in pcod,uf syndrome etc.
Coagulation disorders will be manifesed early at menarche.
nose Bleeds with runny nose
im 21 years of age and my normal cycle length is 29 to 30 days im regular but this time i got my period on cycle day 24 and ive been expericing heavy bleeding with clots with clear cervical mucus this is abnormal for me because i have short periods that last like two days and this on is longer and more bleeding .. what could this be
Hi Idalis, have your heavy menstrual bleeding stopped? Sometimes the endometrial lining can build up over time and cause heavy periods occasionally. If this happens repeatedly, you should get it checked out. Meanwhile, read this post to see if your menstrual cycle is normal or not and whether you should be concerned.
I’m 35, during age 13-33 I saw my period 3-4 times a year. 34 every month but for two weeks, at35for hold month. Can’t understand . How can I stop my period from lasting long n b regular
Hi Neejay, your period pattern seemed quite complicated as there was a dramatic change since age 34. Have you been diagnosed with PCOS, fibroids or endometriosis? I highly recommend that you see a gynecologist to rule out these menstrual conditions. Also check out the top 5 reasons for excessive menstrual bleeding.
What can be taken to unblock fallopian tube and shrink fibroids
Hi Kim, check out this article on how to take care of fibroids.
Thank You for your articles.I really liked your article.I have also read some very good articles on Weight Gain during Periods for women.Very informative.So I am sharing with all the women.
Please read to stay healthy even during periods