Jelly-like period blood is usually normal, caused by blood clots forming when your flow is heavy and anticoagulants can't keep up, mixing blood with shed uterine lining and cervical mucus. Small, quarter-sized clots are common, but if you have large, frequent clots (bigger than a quarter) with heavy bleeding (soaking pads fast), severe pain, or other concerning symptoms like foul odor or itching, see a doctor, as it could signal conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, or infections.
Yes, small, jelly-like blood clots during periods are common and usually normal, especially on your heaviest days.
Texture-wise, normal period clots will feel soft and jelly-like or slightly stringy, never hard. That's because they're primarily made of blood and tissue. It's completely fine to see a few clots this size, especially on heavier days.
Small clots (pea-sized or smaller) are common and aren't usually a cause for concern. Larger clots (bigger than a bottle cap) may indicate an underlying condition. You should speak to your doctor if you see these. Dark red or brownish clots typically appear when blood has taken longer to exit the body.
No significant impact was found between menstrual blood clots and fertility outcomes (FOR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.83-1.25, P = 0.88; OR = 1.26 95% CI = 0.77-2.07, P = 0.35).
What do fibroid blood clots look like? Fibroid blood clots can be dark red or brown, thick in consistency, and sometimes large in size. They may occur alongside heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain. If clots are frequent or unusually large, it could be a sign of uterine fibroids or endometriosis.
The blood clots in your menstrual flow can seem especially slimy and almost jello-like because they combine coagulated blood (blood that is semi-solid, partially clotted), tissue, and blood that has not yet clotted. It is normal for people with periods to have more clots during the first couple of days of their cycle.
Changes in your discharge can be a sign of early pregnancy, but everyone is different. Typically, your mucus dries up or thickens after ovulation. But some people notice their mucus is clumpy or stays wetter if they're pregnant. Still, you shouldn't use your cervical mucus to predict pregnancy.
2. Hydration Levels. Hydration levels can impact the viscosity of menstrual blood, with dehydration potentially leading to thinner and more runny blood. Staying adequately hydrated throughout the menstrual cycle is essential for maintaining overall health and ensuring proper blood flow.
Fibroid locations
While it is possible for fibroids to be expelled during menstruation, it is not common. Fibroids grow from the muscular tissue of the uterus and are usually firmly attached to the uterine wall or on its outer surface. Because of this deep-rooted connection to uterine tissue, fibroids do not detach easily.
Most often, passing small blood clots during your period isn't a cause for concern. The amount, length and frequency of menstrual bleeding vary from month to month and from person to person. But if you pass large blood clots that are bigger than a grape, seek medical care.
The five key warning signs of a deep vein blood clot (DVT) often include swelling, pain/tenderness, warmth, redness/discoloration, and sometimes visible veins, usually in one leg or arm, while signs of a pulmonary embolism (PE) like sudden shortness of breath or chest pain are medical emergencies. Recognizing these symptoms early is crucial, as DVT can travel to the lungs, causing a potentially fatal PE.
You might observe that as you age, your period pain can change. For some, period pain is common in the early years after their first period but tends to improve with time. However, for others, it's like period pain getting worse with age, especially as they reach their 30s and 40s.
Passing large blood clots during your period is another reason to seek medical help. Clots the size of a quarter or larger can suggest that the bleeding is not within the normal range and may be linked to uterine abnormalities.
heavy periods or painful periods. tummy (abdominal) pain. lower back pain. a frequent need to urinate.
As previously stated, fibroids can cause vaginal discharge, but as a rule, fibroid discharge is not smelly. Smelly vaginal discharge is a sign of infection and should be treated by a medical professional.
Over the course of your cycle, your endometrium (lining of your uterus) thickens up. This happens because your body is preparing your uterus for a potential pregnancy. If you don't get pregnant that cycle, you get your period. This now thick lining sheds over several days, a little bit at a time.
In most cases, untreated fibroids are not life-threatening. However, they can lead to complications such as: Anemia – Excessive blood loss from heavy periods can cause fatigue, dizziness, and other health concerns. Infertility – Large or multiple fibroids can interfere with conception or pregnancy.
The uterus sits deep within the pelvis, making it impossible to perform a manual self-exam for fibroids like you can with breast tissue. Smaller fibroids are rarely detectable by touch, and even larger growths are often hard to identify without imaging tests.
As fibroids grow, they can cause the uterus to enlarge, leading to a noticeable bulge that may mimic the appearance of pregnancy. Changes in Abdominal Shape: The fibroid belly bulge can alter the natural contours of the abdomen, resulting in a rounder or more pronounced shape, particularly in the lower abdominal area.
Symptoms can include heavy and prolonged periods, bleeding between periods, pressure in the abdomen and pelvic pain. Fibroids are most often found during a routine pelvic exam or incidentally noted on imaging. If treatment is needed, it may include medications or surgery.
Fibroids are most common in women age 30 to 40, but they can occur at any age. Fibroids occur more often in Black women than in White women. They also seem to occur at a younger age and grow more quickly in Black women.
Because the symptoms are so similar, adenomyosis is often misdiagnosed as uterine fibroids, however, the two conditions are not the same. While fibroids are masses of tissue attached to the uterine wall, adenomyosis is a growth within the uterine wall.
Larger fibroids can cause you to experience a variety of symptoms, including: Excessive or painful bleeding during your period. Bleeding between your periods. A feeling of fullness in your lower belly (abdomen)/bloating.