Blood Clots During My Period

I have always gotten them, it's normal as far as I've been told. That said, I would definatley get a second opinion if I were you...Good luck.

J.,
Hi, i have to start out with EVERYONE is DIFFERENT!!! if you have gotten these blood clots around the same time just about (or the whole time) since you began getting your period, then i would say it's completely normal. SOMETIMES the clots will lighten, sometimes they will fluctuate. if for some reason you never really got them, and all of a sudden you are getting them..then yes, i would say it's not normal, or good FOR YOU!

for me personally, i have been getting my period since i was 9, and i have had clots that have been horrendous, and usually they're just bad during the 1st couple of days, then tiny little clots towards the middle, and barely anything at the end...but before i had my daughter i used to have my period 7-10 days every 2 1/2 - 3 weeks. once i had her it was so nasty that i thought i was hemorrhaging. being that i was always told it gets better after having a baby, i didn't realize that the 1st 2-3 periods afterwards were supposed to be horrible being that you didn't have them for 8-10 months (once again depending on the person).

sometimes my clots were so big that i could only explain them as being like passing a miscarriage (being that i had one 11 weeks in...it's my best example). now, SOMETIMES it's still like that. but the way a dr. had explained it to me (and really, only a woman who's been there AND has the medical training can explain it best) is that when you have a clot, it's a cyst that is "tearing" off your ovaries (which the "tearing" part is where the cramps come in...the worse the cramp, the bigger the clot). now i was also told that ALL women have these cysts that are USUALLY of no concern. and for you to have many (large and small) clots one period, then not so many the next is also normal.

because of the major concern i had..the dr. was very quick to appease my concern, and have me come in for an ultra sound 3 months in a row right before my period was due. each time there were different amounts of cysts on my ovaries, and sometimes there were tons (that kind of concerned her) but sometimes there were hardly any (which eased her mind being that it meant that MOST of the clots had "torn" off during my period). she had explained to me that if i went on birth control it COULD help with this, but not necessarily. for me personally, birth control makes me bleed NON STOP...i bled for 3 months straight until a day or 2 after i stopped taking them.

if you talk to your OBGYN again and she doesn't make you feel any better about it, or even suggest taking some kind of ultrasound, or SOME test to see why YOU are having this...then i would suggest seeing another OBGYN. dr's should have no problem trying to explain why they are worried about certain things. i can't believe that they didn't explain any of this to you.

also, i would contact other women in your family and ask them if they have the same thing as you (or had if they no longer get their period). my mother, my father's sister, and my grandfather's sister all told me that they deal with the same thing. my mother's mother can't remember (said it's been TOO long lol) and my cousins don't really have it nearly as bad as me...but i like to think it's because they have other "blood" in them from their other sides of the family . and if your mother, aunt(s) (by "blood") and any other family memeber that's closer related like your mother (possibly sisters?) if they all deal with the same thing, i would think that it's more normal for YOU then your OBGYN. maybe she is just a lucky one that doesn't have to deal with the pain of clots like this. i know a few friends who have barely any cramps, bleeding, or pms symptoms at all during "that time of the month" SOME WOMEN ARE JUST LUCKY LIKE THAT!

so, i would think about talking to her again about this, let her know whatever you have heard from here, and ask for some kind of test JUST IN CASE and if you don't like her responses...then just go to someone else. while it's hard to find an OBGYN that you REALLY like, it's better to have one that actually listens, and informs, AND knows what they're talking about! good luck. i wouldn't panic just yet, it SOUNDS normal to me, just go for a test, and go from there. i hope that everything is normal for you, as it sounds. GOOD LUCK!

I don't know if it's normal but it's normal for me as well. I have endometriosis (see http://www.endocenter.org for details). I pray that you don't have anything like that!

Did you obgyn say what could be causing the clots?

J.

i've had them for about 10 years now. sometimes small sometimes big. i've never had any problems and i heard alot of woman get them. if you need to get a second opinion if not i don't think you have anything to worry about. M. ~~ Sayreville, NJ

I was starting to think I was crazy. I just thought it was normal and that everyones gets blood clots in their period. But if it isn't something that has happen before then you should get a second opinion.

I have always had them. My mom and sisters have all too. It's my signal that my period is almost over!! If you're concerned, get checked by your doctor, but I've never had any problems because of it.

Hello, I really wanted to respond to this because I got my period on my 13th b-day and I have had blood clots every time it has not effected me in any way it just doesnt feel to good but I have never had any aditinal problems because of it. Take care S.

I never saw a doctor about the clotting until my husband and I were trying to get pregnant. It turned out that I had polyps -- 6 large ones. While I was byopsed for cervical cancer, of course no cancer was present and I had to have some surgery to have the polyps removed. It was an out-patient procedure that took about an hour. Years ago my mother had to have a hysterecomy because of her polyps, but today they remove those fibriods instead of the uterus. And, I was then able to carry a pregnancy -- Our twin daughters were born last January.

I've always gotten them. So did my mom. I never heard that it is anything to worry about.

Good luck!
Deb

I always get them as well and it's usually day 3 or 4 of my period. I want to think that I'd rather see that come out then have that stay in the uterus lining.

Dear J.,

I'm an acupuncturist & herbalist and Chinese Medicine has a definite opinion on clotting during menses. I don't think that you should worry about the situation if all else is well according to your OB-Gyn. Clotting is extremely common. However, according to Chinese Medicine, it is not a normal occurence and it is a situation that should be treated for optimum health. Clotting can be attributed to numerous causes and your individual pattern and treatment will be identified by a skilled practitioner of Chinese Medicine in your area. The treatment will improve your health overall, as the clotting is merely a symptom of imbalance.

Best wishes & Happy New Year!
E. Phoenix, L.Ac., MSTOM

I also get blood clots during my period. I guess it is a pretty normal thing. Although they have gotten worse since I gave birth to my son. Anyway I recently read this at www.onewoman.com

My gynecologist explains clots to me as follows: Blood is pushed out of your uterus when the uterus contracts (you don't necessarily feel these contractions, but when they are strong, you feel them as cramps). The uterus releases "anti-coagulants" during menstruation. These are supposed to keep the blood from clotting up as it passes from the uterus to the vagina, thus making the whole bleeding process easier.

But if you have days of heavy cramps and heavy bleeding, you may pass dark, chunky clots of blood. On such days your contractions are so fast and so strong that the blood gets forced out before the anti-coagulants have time to take effect. So the blood clots. And you pass big chunky gobs of stuff.

If the clots you are passing are larger than, say, a quarter, you might want to ask your doctor about it, because that indicates that your periods are quite heavy, and they might want to check for fibroids (benign tumors).

hope this helps.

Hi J., yes it can be normal to pass clots during your period. Have you always done this? If so, likely pretty normal. But your doctor would know best about size, frequency, onset, etc. If she is concerned, and if you are concerned, be sure to make an appointment to sit down (clothes on) and discuss what the issue is.

Good luck!

M.

I've always had clots with my period. The older I get, and the more children I've had, the larger they are, and more numerous. I always thought it was normal as well, and just assumed that was how the lining of my uterus was expelled every month. I'd be interested in your doctors explanation of why it's not a good thing. Would you mind sharing?

J.,

I have always gotten them as well. Thats what blood does, clot so I dont think you should be worried unless its a huge amount coming out. I think you should get a second opinion.

I've always had clots, and my doctors (3 different OBGYNS over the years) said that it's normal. Some women just have heavier flow than others.

Hi J., I must admitt your ob-gyn confused me. Make her tell you WHY it's not good. I cannot see why. As far as I can see it it is normal for blood that have left your blood vessels to clot. I would be rather glad than nervous. I would rather say it's perfectly normal. Talk to your ob-gyn - perhaps she combines this info with some other knowledge of your body that you are not aware of, but until then - don't worry. Take care. J.