If your menstrual blood varies in color and consistency throughout your monthly period, it's likely that it's perfectly normal. There are times, though, when changes in color, thickness, or clotting may indicate a problem.
You might feel embarrassed asking your health care provider about menstrual blood problems, but it is important.
What happens during a menstrual period, and how long does it last?
During your menstrual cycle, the lining of your uterus thickens to get ready for pregnancy. Then, during your period, your body sheds the uterus lining along with blood. The amount of blood and fluid lost is usually between 4 and 12 teaspoons each cycle.
The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days. For some women, though, cycles can be as short as 21 days. For others, they can be as long as 35 days.
A normal period lasts between two and seven days. The average length of time for a period is three to five days.
Are clots and thicker menstrual blood unusual during a period?
Many women have clots in their menstrual blood from time to time. The clots may be bright red or dark in color. Often, these clots are shed on the heaviest days of bleeding. The presence of multiple clots in your flow may make your menstrual blood seem thick or denser than usual.
Your body typically releases anticoagulants to keep menstrual blood from clotting as it's being released. But when your period is heavy and blood is being rapidly expelled, there's not enough time for anticoagulants to work. That enables clots to form.
If you have excessive clotting or clots larger than a quarter, you should see your health care provider to rule out any conditions that might be causing an abnormal period.
Are darker colors and thicker flows normal in menstrual blood?
Sometimes you may notice that your menstrual blood becomes dark brown or almost black as you near the end of your period. This is a normal color change. It happens when the blood is older and not being expelled from the body quickly.
Temporary thick, heavy flow isn't necessarily cause for concern. However, regular heavy periods justify a trip to the doctor to check your blood counts. Many women become accustomed to heavy periods, considering them to be normal. Over time, though, the excess monthly blood loss leads to anemia, potentially causing weakness or fatigue. If you ever feel something's not right with your period, see your health care provider.
What causes menstrual blood problems?
Changes in the color and thickness of menstrual blood are often normal. But there are a number of problems that might cause abnormal clots to form in your menstrual blood or lead to the changes in color or thickness during your period. Remember, it's important to discuss any concerns you have with your doctor. Problems that can cause changes include:
• Miscarriage. Women who have miscarried may pass blood clots or gray clumps of tissue from the vagina. If there is a chance you are pregnant, be sure to check with your doctor immediately if you notice excessive bleeding or clotting.
• Fibroids. Uterine fibroids are also called leiomyomas. These are noncancerous tumors that form in the uterus. Fibroids do not always cause symptoms. In fact, increasing research information suggests that most women with small "fibroid" tumors have no symptoms at all. But women with fibroids may notice greater than usual amounts of menstrual blood. If you have fibroids, you may have more clots in your period than you had in the past.
• Hormonal changes. Your body relies on a delicate balance of progesterone and estrogen. These hormones regulate the production and shedding of the uterine lining. When this 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.
Hormone changes may occur for many reasons, including:
• Menopause
• Recent dramatic weight change
• Side effects from some medications, including steroids
• Large uterus. If your uterus has been stretched during pregnancy and does not return to its original size, it may be permanently enlarged. With an enlarged uterus, menstrual blood may have time to collect and clot before it's released from the body. This could also result in a dark color or thickening of your menstrual flow.
• Obstruction of menstrual blood. Anything that hinders or blocks the flow of menstrual blood from the uterus through the cervix and out of the vagina may lead to problems with clots, color, or thickness of menstrual blood. Benign polyps in the uterus may change the flow of blood during your period. The flow can also be slowed around the time of menopause when the cervical canal may become smaller as estrogen levels drop.
• Adenomyosis or endometriosis. These related conditions occur when the tissue that forms the uterine lining is found in the wrong place. In endometriosis, this tissue develops outside of the uterus. In adenomyosis it grows in the muscle that makes up the uterine walls. Both of these conditions can lead to abnormal periods and heavy flow. This can increase the likelihood of menstrual blood problems such as clotting or thickness.
While the topic lies pretty firmly in the too much information category, many, many women wonder about menstrual blood color and texture. It's something that comes out of you that you can't really ignore, so it's only natural to wonder when it changes in some way, shape, or form. The Net is flooded with questions like, "What does dark period blood mean?" "What do lots of clots in your period blood mean?" and "What does bright red blood mean during your period?" to prove it. Sadly, anyone searching any or all of the above will be met with pages and pages of forum results, not answers. This article will do its best to provide answers through personal experience as a woman with irregular periods, an interview with licensed mid-wife Linda Deuce of Alaska, and online research.
Period blood color:
Bright red blood: When blood is bright red it means it was produced by the body recently. During a period this just means what's being shed was just released in to the uterus. You may see more bright red blood if you have a lighter flow, or frequent periods.
Dark blood: Dark blood is essentially older blood. This means it's been stored in the uterus longer and had more time to break down. Many women notice more dark, red blood when they first wake in the morning.
Brown or Black: This is simply rather old blood; most women notice it at the tail end of their period. It usually isn't that heavy. This may have been blood that was stuck in folds of the uterine wall, or if you have infrequent periods, was just the first to enter so long ago.
Orange: Sometimes when bright, red blood mixes with cervical fluid it can appear an almost orange color with red flecks. Bright orange period blood can also be a sign of infection, however, so if you see it frequently, or it doesn't also have a slippery consistency, see your doctor.
Period blood textures:
Heavily clots: Heavy clotting is usually prescribed to heavy periods. As blood is expelled the body releases anticoagulants to keep it from clotting, but if your period is heavy, sometimes the blood flow and speed doesn't give them time to work, and clots are the result. Clots can occur in any color of blood, though they are more commonly dark in color. This makes sense, because when you're expelling older blood it has had time to build up a lining in the uterus as it should, naturally a buildup of blood would create a heavier flow than fresh blood which would be bright red in color. Frequent heavy clotting or clots larger than the size of a quarter can be a sign of a more serious problem, and should be evaluated by your doctor.
Slippery and jelly-like: Menstrual blood that seems almost slippery with a jelly-like texture is simply mixed with high levels of cervical mucus. Cervical mucus is always present in the vagina, even during menstruation, if your flow is light, it may be sufficient to alter the appearance of blood texture. You may also notice this after a bowel movement when more mucus is pushed from the cervix.
Thin: Thin blood is being properly preventing from clotting. It is often bright red in color, and accompanies a light to moderate flow. Fresh blood will appear thinner, as will blood that is light enough that it's mixing with cervical fluid.
Tissue: If there is what appears to be actual tissue within your period blood it is possible you suffered an early miscarriage, you should seek medical attention.
Keep in mind, that in most cases, changes in menstrual blood color or texture are entirely irrelevant, and don't suggest any health problem.
Menstruation is a normal part of women's lives and involves a periodic or cyclical shedding of their endometrium (the lining of the uterus). Because of its nature, it is usually referred to as a menstrual period, or simply a period, which starts around the time of sexual maturity (puberty) and ends at the end of a woman's reproductive life (menopause).
A woman's period blood colors and textures may vary during various stages of life and during times when certain conditions may interfere with the normal cycle. Here is a discussion of normal and abnormal conditions, which may affect the characteristics of one's periods.
What is a normal period?
A menstrual period usually occurs when a woman does not become pregnant. The uterus is lined with endometrial tissue that thickens under the influence of hormones, to get ready for possible pregnancy. This lining, which is rich with blood, is shed periodically (approximately every 28 days) when there is no pregnancy, and this may last for two to seven days. The length of a normal menstrual cycle may range from 21 to 35 days, and the duration of a period is usually 3-5 days. A woman may lose as little as 4 teaspoons or as much as 12 teaspoons of blood per period.
It is normal for the period blood colors and textures to vary from bright red to brown or somewhat black and from thin to very thick. These changes may be a sign that the blood has been in the uterus for some time and has not been removed quickly. This may be a normal occurrence, which should not be a cause of concern.
Some women however, feel that something may be going on, and want to know the possible reasons in the changes from their usual menstruation.
Different period blood colors
• Bright red: Bright red menstrual blood signifies that the blood was recently shed and released from the body. This type of blood flow is usually light and one may be having frequent periods.
• Dark red: Dark red blood is usually "older blood". This may have been stored in your uterus for a while and has taken a longer time to be shed. Many women shed blood that is dark red upon waking up.
• Brown/Black: This is also old blood. Most women see dark brown or black blood towards the end of the period, and the blood flow is not that heavy. It may also be blood that stayed in the uterine folds, or in women whose periods are infrequent, it may be blood that was initially there before being released much later.
• Orange: Bright red menstrual blood that mixes with fluids from the cervix can appear orange with red streaks. Bright orange blood may be associated with infection, so if you suspect this, it is best to consult a doctor.
Different period blood textures
• Heavy clots: Blood clotting is a sign of heavy periods. When there is heavy bleeding the body produces anticoagulants to prevent blood clotting, but during heavy periods, this mechanism does not get enough time to do its work, resulting in the formation of clots. These blood clots may appear in any color of blood but are usually associated with dark blood. This is because older blood that builds up in the uterine walls creates a heavy flow. If this occurs frequently, one must suspect a serious problem that should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
• Slippery, jelly-like: Slippery blood that is jelly-like may be blood that is mixed with mucus from the cervix. Cervical mucus is normally present in your vagina, and when mixed with menstrual flow that is light, it may give a slippery gel-like texture. This can also occur with bowel movements when cervical mucus flows from the vagina.
• Thin: Menstrual blood that is thin is prevented from clotting. Usually bright red, it is usually associated with light or moderate blood flow and appears thinner and sometimes mixed with mucus from the cervix.
• Tissue: The appearance of endometrial tissue in your blood may be a sign of miscarriage, or abortion, for which you must immediately seek a doctor's attention.
In most cases, changes in period blood colors and textures are normal and not a cause for worry. There are a few cases, however, when one may suspect an abnormality, which needs further investigation.
What causes abnormal period blood colors and textures?
Color and texture changes in menstrual blood may be caused by some problems, which should be discussed with a doctor:
• Miscarriage: Passing of large amounts of blood clots or clumps of grey tissue may be a sign that a woman is having a miscarriage. If it is possible that you may be pregnant, see a doctor immediately when you experience heavy bleeding or passing clots or tissue.
• Uterine Fibroids: Fibroids or leiomyomas are benign tumors (not cancerous) that develop within the uterus. They are not always associated with symptoms, except that some women may notice they are passing more menstrual blood than usual. They may also have more blood clots during their period than they did before.
• Hormonal irregularities: Estrogen and progesterone are hormones that regulate the periodic shedding of the endometrium (uterine lining). When there is a disturbance in the balance between these hormones, the uterine lining may become excessively thickened, which can contribute to heavier bleeding than normal. This can also lead to the development of clots during one's period.
Hormonal changes occur for various reasons, including:
• Sudden, significant weight changes
• Drug side effects
• Enlarged uterus
• Obstruction to blood flow.
• Abnormal growth of uterine tissue (endometriosis/adenomyosis)
• Menopause
When to see a doctor
Changes in period blood colors and textures are not commonly serious. However, sometimes it can lead to a loss of a significant amount of blood over time, without being noticed because it occurs slowly. It is advisable to see your doctor if you experience:
• Easy fatigue after normal activity
• Frequent dizziness
• Pale ashen skin
• Pale fingernails
• Irregular periods
These may be signs of anemia, which can be confirmed with a blood test. Iron supplements may be prescribed to improve this condition.
You might feel embarrassed asking your health care provider about menstrual blood problems, but it is important.
What happens during a menstrual period, and how long does it last?
During your menstrual cycle, the lining of your uterus thickens to get ready for pregnancy. Then, during your period, your body sheds the uterus lining along with blood. The amount of blood and fluid lost is usually between 4 and 12 teaspoons each cycle.
The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days. For some women, though, cycles can be as short as 21 days. For others, they can be as long as 35 days.
A normal period lasts between two and seven days. The average length of time for a period is three to five days.
Are clots and thicker menstrual blood unusual during a period?
Many women have clots in their menstrual blood from time to time. The clots may be bright red or dark in color. Often, these clots are shed on the heaviest days of bleeding. The presence of multiple clots in your flow may make your menstrual blood seem thick or denser than usual.
Your body typically releases anticoagulants to keep menstrual blood from clotting as it's being released. But when your period is heavy and blood is being rapidly expelled, there's not enough time for anticoagulants to work. That enables clots to form.
If you have excessive clotting or clots larger than a quarter, you should see your health care provider to rule out any conditions that might be causing an abnormal period.
Are darker colors and thicker flows normal in menstrual blood?
Sometimes you may notice that your menstrual blood becomes dark brown or almost black as you near the end of your period. This is a normal color change. It happens when the blood is older and not being expelled from the body quickly.
Temporary thick, heavy flow isn't necessarily cause for concern. However, regular heavy periods justify a trip to the doctor to check your blood counts. Many women become accustomed to heavy periods, considering them to be normal. Over time, though, the excess monthly blood loss leads to anemia, potentially causing weakness or fatigue. If you ever feel something's not right with your period, see your health care provider.
What causes menstrual blood problems?
Changes in the color and thickness of menstrual blood are often normal. But there are a number of problems that might cause abnormal clots to form in your menstrual blood or lead to the changes in color or thickness during your period. Remember, it's important to discuss any concerns you have with your doctor. Problems that can cause changes include:
• Miscarriage. Women who have miscarried may pass blood clots or gray clumps of tissue from the vagina. If there is a chance you are pregnant, be sure to check with your doctor immediately if you notice excessive bleeding or clotting.
• Fibroids. Uterine fibroids are also called leiomyomas. These are noncancerous tumors that form in the uterus. Fibroids do not always cause symptoms. In fact, increasing research information suggests that most women with small "fibroid" tumors have no symptoms at all. But women with fibroids may notice greater than usual amounts of menstrual blood. If you have fibroids, you may have more clots in your period than you had in the past.
• Hormonal changes. Your body relies on a delicate balance of progesterone and estrogen. These hormones regulate the production and shedding of the uterine lining. When this 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.
Hormone changes may occur for many reasons, including:
• Menopause
• Recent dramatic weight change
• Side effects from some medications, including steroids
• Large uterus. If your uterus has been stretched during pregnancy and does not return to its original size, it may be permanently enlarged. With an enlarged uterus, menstrual blood may have time to collect and clot before it's released from the body. This could also result in a dark color or thickening of your menstrual flow.
• Obstruction of menstrual blood. Anything that hinders or blocks the flow of menstrual blood from the uterus through the cervix and out of the vagina may lead to problems with clots, color, or thickness of menstrual blood. Benign polyps in the uterus may change the flow of blood during your period. The flow can also be slowed around the time of menopause when the cervical canal may become smaller as estrogen levels drop.
• Adenomyosis or endometriosis. These related conditions occur when the tissue that forms the uterine lining is found in the wrong place. In endometriosis, this tissue develops outside of the uterus. In adenomyosis it grows in the muscle that makes up the uterine walls. Both of these conditions can lead to abnormal periods and heavy flow. This can increase the likelihood of menstrual blood problems such as clotting or thickness.
While the topic lies pretty firmly in the too much information category, many, many women wonder about menstrual blood color and texture. It's something that comes out of you that you can't really ignore, so it's only natural to wonder when it changes in some way, shape, or form. The Net is flooded with questions like, "What does dark period blood mean?" "What do lots of clots in your period blood mean?" and "What does bright red blood mean during your period?" to prove it. Sadly, anyone searching any or all of the above will be met with pages and pages of forum results, not answers. This article will do its best to provide answers through personal experience as a woman with irregular periods, an interview with licensed mid-wife Linda Deuce of Alaska, and online research.
Period blood color:
Bright red blood: When blood is bright red it means it was produced by the body recently. During a period this just means what's being shed was just released in to the uterus. You may see more bright red blood if you have a lighter flow, or frequent periods.
Dark blood: Dark blood is essentially older blood. This means it's been stored in the uterus longer and had more time to break down. Many women notice more dark, red blood when they first wake in the morning.
Brown or Black: This is simply rather old blood; most women notice it at the tail end of their period. It usually isn't that heavy. This may have been blood that was stuck in folds of the uterine wall, or if you have infrequent periods, was just the first to enter so long ago.
Orange: Sometimes when bright, red blood mixes with cervical fluid it can appear an almost orange color with red flecks. Bright orange period blood can also be a sign of infection, however, so if you see it frequently, or it doesn't also have a slippery consistency, see your doctor.
Period blood textures:
Heavily clots: Heavy clotting is usually prescribed to heavy periods. As blood is expelled the body releases anticoagulants to keep it from clotting, but if your period is heavy, sometimes the blood flow and speed doesn't give them time to work, and clots are the result. Clots can occur in any color of blood, though they are more commonly dark in color. This makes sense, because when you're expelling older blood it has had time to build up a lining in the uterus as it should, naturally a buildup of blood would create a heavier flow than fresh blood which would be bright red in color. Frequent heavy clotting or clots larger than the size of a quarter can be a sign of a more serious problem, and should be evaluated by your doctor.
Slippery and jelly-like: Menstrual blood that seems almost slippery with a jelly-like texture is simply mixed with high levels of cervical mucus. Cervical mucus is always present in the vagina, even during menstruation, if your flow is light, it may be sufficient to alter the appearance of blood texture. You may also notice this after a bowel movement when more mucus is pushed from the cervix.
Thin: Thin blood is being properly preventing from clotting. It is often bright red in color, and accompanies a light to moderate flow. Fresh blood will appear thinner, as will blood that is light enough that it's mixing with cervical fluid.
Tissue: If there is what appears to be actual tissue within your period blood it is possible you suffered an early miscarriage, you should seek medical attention.
Keep in mind, that in most cases, changes in menstrual blood color or texture are entirely irrelevant, and don't suggest any health problem.
Menstruation is a normal part of women's lives and involves a periodic or cyclical shedding of their endometrium (the lining of the uterus). Because of its nature, it is usually referred to as a menstrual period, or simply a period, which starts around the time of sexual maturity (puberty) and ends at the end of a woman's reproductive life (menopause).
A woman's period blood colors and textures may vary during various stages of life and during times when certain conditions may interfere with the normal cycle. Here is a discussion of normal and abnormal conditions, which may affect the characteristics of one's periods.
What is a normal period?
A menstrual period usually occurs when a woman does not become pregnant. The uterus is lined with endometrial tissue that thickens under the influence of hormones, to get ready for possible pregnancy. This lining, which is rich with blood, is shed periodically (approximately every 28 days) when there is no pregnancy, and this may last for two to seven days. The length of a normal menstrual cycle may range from 21 to 35 days, and the duration of a period is usually 3-5 days. A woman may lose as little as 4 teaspoons or as much as 12 teaspoons of blood per period.
It is normal for the period blood colors and textures to vary from bright red to brown or somewhat black and from thin to very thick. These changes may be a sign that the blood has been in the uterus for some time and has not been removed quickly. This may be a normal occurrence, which should not be a cause of concern.
Some women however, feel that something may be going on, and want to know the possible reasons in the changes from their usual menstruation.
Different period blood colors
• Bright red: Bright red menstrual blood signifies that the blood was recently shed and released from the body. This type of blood flow is usually light and one may be having frequent periods.
• Dark red: Dark red blood is usually "older blood". This may have been stored in your uterus for a while and has taken a longer time to be shed. Many women shed blood that is dark red upon waking up.
• Brown/Black: This is also old blood. Most women see dark brown or black blood towards the end of the period, and the blood flow is not that heavy. It may also be blood that stayed in the uterine folds, or in women whose periods are infrequent, it may be blood that was initially there before being released much later.
• Orange: Bright red menstrual blood that mixes with fluids from the cervix can appear orange with red streaks. Bright orange blood may be associated with infection, so if you suspect this, it is best to consult a doctor.
Different period blood textures
• Heavy clots: Blood clotting is a sign of heavy periods. When there is heavy bleeding the body produces anticoagulants to prevent blood clotting, but during heavy periods, this mechanism does not get enough time to do its work, resulting in the formation of clots. These blood clots may appear in any color of blood but are usually associated with dark blood. This is because older blood that builds up in the uterine walls creates a heavy flow. If this occurs frequently, one must suspect a serious problem that should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
• Slippery, jelly-like: Slippery blood that is jelly-like may be blood that is mixed with mucus from the cervix. Cervical mucus is normally present in your vagina, and when mixed with menstrual flow that is light, it may give a slippery gel-like texture. This can also occur with bowel movements when cervical mucus flows from the vagina.
• Thin: Menstrual blood that is thin is prevented from clotting. Usually bright red, it is usually associated with light or moderate blood flow and appears thinner and sometimes mixed with mucus from the cervix.
• Tissue: The appearance of endometrial tissue in your blood may be a sign of miscarriage, or abortion, for which you must immediately seek a doctor's attention.
In most cases, changes in period blood colors and textures are normal and not a cause for worry. There are a few cases, however, when one may suspect an abnormality, which needs further investigation.
What causes abnormal period blood colors and textures?
Color and texture changes in menstrual blood may be caused by some problems, which should be discussed with a doctor:
• Miscarriage: Passing of large amounts of blood clots or clumps of grey tissue may be a sign that a woman is having a miscarriage. If it is possible that you may be pregnant, see a doctor immediately when you experience heavy bleeding or passing clots or tissue.
• Uterine Fibroids: Fibroids or leiomyomas are benign tumors (not cancerous) that develop within the uterus. They are not always associated with symptoms, except that some women may notice they are passing more menstrual blood than usual. They may also have more blood clots during their period than they did before.
• Hormonal irregularities: Estrogen and progesterone are hormones that regulate the periodic shedding of the endometrium (uterine lining). When there is a disturbance in the balance between these hormones, the uterine lining may become excessively thickened, which can contribute to heavier bleeding than normal. This can also lead to the development of clots during one's period.
Hormonal changes occur for various reasons, including:
• Sudden, significant weight changes
• Drug side effects
• Enlarged uterus
• Obstruction to blood flow.
• Abnormal growth of uterine tissue (endometriosis/adenomyosis)
• Menopause
When to see a doctor
Changes in period blood colors and textures are not commonly serious. However, sometimes it can lead to a loss of a significant amount of blood over time, without being noticed because it occurs slowly. It is advisable to see your doctor if you experience:
• Easy fatigue after normal activity
• Frequent dizziness
• Pale ashen skin
• Pale fingernails
• Irregular periods
These may be signs of anemia, which can be confirmed with a blood test. Iron supplements may be prescribed to improve this condition.
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