Menstruation arrives this month, bringing relief to many women. But what exactly causes large blood clots in menstrual flow? Some resemble pig liver, others herbal jelly, and still others… A quick online search reveals a variety of explanations: kidney deficiency, blood stasis, uterine disease, miscarriage—all causing considerable alarm among women. Is the appearance of dark blood clots in menstrual flow serious? What exactly are these dark blood clots in menstrual flow? Let's find out together.
The presence of blood clots during menstruation is normal.
First, we need to understand how menstruation occurs. Menstruation is caused by the shedding of the uterine lining. Blood mixes with the shed uterine lining and flows out of the body, becoming menstrual blood. If the shed uterine lining is large, it will form blood clots. In most cases, the presence of blood clots indicates heavy menstrual flow. If there are no other discomforts and the amount of blood clots is not excessive, it is considered normal, and women do not need to worry too much.
However, if you find that your menstrual flow has unusually heavy amounts of blood clots, is dark or bright red in color, and is accompanied by menstrual cramps, it may indicate an underlying health problem. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that blood clots in a girl's menstrual flow are often caused by blood stasis. Blood stasis can cause a dull complexion and menstrual pain, but this is not considered a serious issue. If you feel your symptoms are severe, you can use traditional Chinese medicine with blood-activating, stasis-removing, and qi-regulating functions under the guidance of a doctor to regulate your body.
The following conditions can lead to the formation of blood clots.
While menstrual blood clots are a normal phenomenon, we shouldn't ignore them. Instead, we should identify the cause and take appropriate measures to regulate our bodies. Generally speaking, the following three situations can lead to the appearance of blood clots during menstruation in women.
1. Excessive exposure to cold
Failure to keep warm during menstruation can lead to excessive coldness in the body, causing uterine coldness and blood stagnation, resulting in blood clots. Therefore, it is essential to pay special attention to keeping warm during menstruation. Avoid taking cold showers or washing your hair with cold water, and refrain from eating cold foods such as ice cream. Especially in winter, wear extra layers when going out to prevent the body from being invaded by cold pathogens and developing health problems later in life.
2. Prolonged sitting
Prolonged sitting can cause menstrual blood to accumulate in the body. If not expelled in time, it can solidify into lumps, compressing the uterine wall and causing menstrual cramps. Therefore, during menstruation, women should avoid sitting still and working at a desk all day. Instead, they should go out for a walk and move around to prevent menstrual blood from clotting and causing pain.
3. Gynecological diseases
While menstrual blood clots are generally considered normal, frequent and persistent large amounts of dark blood clots should raise concern! Certain gynecological conditions can cause large blood clots during menstruation, such as abnormal uterine position (anteverted or retroverted), uterine fibroids, endometritis, or polyps. In such cases, women should promptly consult a doctor for diagnosis and screening to avoid missing the optimal treatment window and worsening the condition.
What are those dark blood clots in menstrual blood? Are they normal? As mentioned above, as long as the amount of blood clots is small and there is no accompanying menstrual cramps, it is considered normal and will not have a significant impact on the body. However, if the situation is severe, it is still recommended to see a doctor for timely diagnosis and prevention of disease.
