Large blood clots while on periods should not be taken lightly as they may be a warning sign that something is not right or in order with you. Besides making a person uncomfortable period clots can also be a scary sight.
There are many health reasons why you may experience period clots, for the purpose of this article, we have selected five, as provided by the Healthline.
Fibroids are typically noncancerous, muscular tumors that grow in the uterine wall. Besides heavy menstrual bleeding, they can also produce irregular menstrual bleeding, low back pain, pain during sex, a protruding belly, fertility issues. Up to 80 percent of females will develop fibroids by the time they’re 50. The cause is unknown, but genetics and the hormones estrogen and progesterone likely play a role in their development.
Adenomyosis
Adenomyosis occurs when the uterine lining, for unknown reasons, grows into the uterine wall. That causes the uterus to enlarge and thicken. In addition to prolonged, heavy bleeding, this common condition can cause the uterus to grow two to three times its normal size.
Hormonal imbalance
In order to grow and thicken properly, the uterine lining relies on a balance of estrogen and progesterone. If there’s too much or too little of one or the other, you could have heavy menstrual bleeding. Some things that can cause a hormonal imbalance are perimenopause, menopause, stress and significant weight gain or loss. The main symptom of a hormonal imbalance is irregular menstruation. For example, your periods may be later or longer than usual, or you may miss them entirely.
Miscarriage
According to the March of Dimes, as many as half of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Many of these pregnancy losses occur before they even know they’re pregnant. When an early pregnancy is lost, it can lead to heavy bleeding, cramping, and clotting.
Cancer
Although rare, cancerous tumors of the uterus and cervix can lead to heavy menstrual bleeding.
Also see: 5 Ways to balance your hormones naturally
