- Causes of menstruation with pieces
- 1. Abortion
- 2. Endometriosis
- 3. Myoma
- 4. Iron deficiency anemia
- 5. Other diseases that affect the endometrium
- 6. Vitamin and mineral deficiency
- 7. Gynecological exams or childbirth
- When menstruation comes with skin
Sometimes, menstruation can come down with pieces, which are blood clots, but this situation is usually normal, because it arises due to an imbalance in the woman's hormones. When this hormonal imbalance occurs, the lining of the walls of the uterus can thicken, causing more profuse bleeding and the formation of clots, which can vary between 5 mm to 3-4 cm.
However, although menstruation with lumps is normal in most cases and does not require treatment, in other cases it can be caused by some diseases such as anemia, endometriosis or fibroid. For this reason, it is important to consult a gynecologist to assess the cause of the blood clots and to guide the appropriate treatment.
If you have had heavy bleeding for more than 7 days, see the main causes of menstrual bleeding.
Causes of menstruation with pieces
Menstruation with chunks is generally not a concern and does not need treatment. However, it can also be a sign of inflammation or diseases such as endometriosis, so it is important to see a gynecologist for a blood clotting test after menstruation or an ultrasound.
When a woman has more than 2 menstrual cycles with broken periods, this can mean:
1. Abortion
Blood clots during menstruation may indicate a miscarriage in the first trimester of pregnancy, especially if the color is slightly yellow or grayish. See what other symptoms can help to identify an abortion.
What to do: to confirm if an abortion has occurred it is very important to go to the gynecologist, but if the bleeding is very heavy, you must go to the hospital quickly to start the appropriate treatment and prevent the loss of a lot of blood. In most cases, abortion occurs in the first weeks of pregnancy and the bleeding lasts only between 2 to 3 days.
2. Endometriosis
Endometriosis is characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, which can cause heavy menstruation, severe pain and clot formation. This disease, despite being more frequent in women between 30 and 40 years old, can appear at any age.
What to do: you should consult the gynecologist to do tests such as transvaginal ultrasound or blood analysis and confirm the diagnosis, starting the treatment that normally depends on the woman's desire to get pregnant, which can be done with the use of drugs, hormones or surgery. Find out more about when severe menstrual pain can be endometriosis and how treatment is done.
3. Myoma
Myoma is a benign tumor on the inner wall of the uterus, which usually causes symptoms such as pain in the uterus, heavy menstruation with clot formation and bleeding outside the menstrual period.
What to do: It is important to consult the gynecologist to do a pelvic ultrasound and confirm the presence of the fibroid. Treatment can be done with medication, surgery to remove the fibroid or embolization of the fibroid. Learn more about treatment for fibroids.
4. Iron deficiency anemia
Iron deficiency anemia can be one of the causes of lumpy menstruation, as iron deficiency can alter blood clotting, leading to clots during menstruation.
What to do: It is advisable to consult your GP to order a blood test and confirm the presence of anemia. When confirmed, anemia can be treated with an iron supplement, prescribed by the doctor, and the intake of iron-rich foods such as lentils, parsley, beans and meats. See other iron-rich foods for anemia.
5. Other diseases that affect the endometrium
Other diseases of the endometrium such as endometrial hyperplasia, which is the overgrowth of the endometrium, or polyposis, which is the formation of polyps in the endometrium, can cause menstruation with pieces due to the growth of the uterus.
What to do: consult the gynecologist to identify the correct problem. Treatment can be done with curettage of the endometrial tissue or with the use of progesterone. Understand how curettage is done.
6. Vitamin and mineral deficiency
Deficiency of vitamins and minerals that regulate clot formation such as vitamin C or K deficiency alters blood clotting, causing clots to form during menstruation.
What to do: in these cases it is important to increase your intake such as spinach, orange, strawberry, broccoli or carrots, for example. See more complete lists of foods with vitamin K and vitamin C.
7. Gynecological exams or childbirth
Menstruation with chunks can also occur after some gynecological examinations or when delivery complications occur.
What to do: usually menstruation stops showing changes in 2 or 3 days, returning to normal in the next cycle. Therefore, if clots continue to appear, it is important to consult the gynecologist.
When menstruation comes with skin
Menstruation can also come with small pieces of skin and this does not mean that the woman had an abortion. These pieces of skin are small pieces of the woman's own endometrium, but they are colorless. Just as blood has red cells and white cells, the endometrium can also show this color.
If the woman has menstruation with pieces of skin in 2 consecutive cycles, it is recommended to go to the gynecologist to have an observational exam and ask for exams, if you think it is necessary.
