How to remove menstrual clots ?
Chinese medicine view Menstrual Blood Clots and fertility.
A healthy menstrual cycle underpins a woman’s fertility. It needs to be regular – An average menstrual cycle lasts around 28 days, be of sufficient volume – around 6-8 teaspoons of blood is considered normal – and a bright rich red colour. A healthy period is also one that is free from large blood clots during period.
Roughly 12 in every 100 women will experience heavy periods which is classified as when she loses more than 16 teaspoons of blood each menstruation – often accompanied by a number of other symptoms including large blood clots during the period. This symptom could signal an number of underlying conditions that could impair your fertility. If you are trying to conceive it is therefore important that you monitor your menstrual flow to see if you have vaginal blood clots in period.
In this article we will explore the causes of menstrual clots in greater detail, provide a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective and some helpful advice about how to remove menstrual clots and stop heavy bleeding.
What should a healthy period feel like?
A healthy period is one that doesn’t interfere with daily life or leave you feeling weak. A healthy period is manageable and predictable—but not necessarily light or heavy. When it comes to your monthly visit, period blood clotting is normal for many women.
Your period consists of endometrial tissue, blood from small blood vessels that are damaged when the uterus sheds its lining, and mucus from the cervical glands. When an egg disintegrates after ovulation, platelets are released into the bloodstream—and during the period. The blood contains anticoagulants that keep it from clotting your period should be liquid – this means that it is meant to be easy for your body to release. In addition uterine contractions help to ensure that the period’s flow is smooth and pain free – you should not notice any blood clots during period.
Menstrual Clots in depth – why do we get blood clots during a period?
Are menstrual clots normal? There is a difference between normal period clots and abnormal ones.
A normal menstrual clot is:
- When the blood clots in period is smaller than 1 inch and light red or orange in colour. This is not a true menstrual clot, it is actually a mixture of cervical mucus mixed with blood from your period. So there is no need to worry if you have bright red period blood with clots.
- Occasional, they are usually released at the start of your period and do not recur frequently
Abnormal blood clot facts:
- Size: Abnormal blood clots are larger than an inch, thick and dark red – the colour of a kidney bean. So you should be careful with dark red period blood with clots.
- Composition: They are made up of older coagulated blood that has remained in the uterine lining for a long time and is now being expelled, endometrial tissue and fibrin (fibrin is formed during the clotting of blood).
- Duration: These abnormal blood clots are expelled every month or almost monthly and they last throughout your period
- Other side effects: Abnormal big blood clots during period are often accompanied by significant abdominal pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, faintness and fatigue
What causes blood clots in a menstrual period?
There are a number of underlying factors that can result in large period clots and excessive bleeding:
Fibroids
These are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus.They are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue, and can vary in size. These inhibit the smooth passage of blood resulting in an increased chance of clots forming. 1 in 3 women with condition experience clotting, lower back pain and heavy or painful periods.
Stress
Stress can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle. Excess stress can extend the length of the menstrual cycle – meaning that blood has longer to coagulate, play havoc with your hormone levels, and also triggers extensive bleeding. In some cases, some may even experience bleeding for over a month with blood clots.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is when the cells that line the inside of the uterus grow outside the uterus, such as on the ovaries or fallopian tubes. This condition may cause heavy period with clots, Â painful sex and chronic pelvic pain.
Hormonal imbalances
It is essential that hormone levels are precisely balanced to maintain a healthy uterus. If the levels of specific hormones become unbalanced, many issues can occur, including heavy periods and clotting.
Uterine issues
These include benign growths in the uterus, wearing an IUD which can increase blood loss by up to 50% every period, and excessive growth in the lining of the womb.
Q: How do TCM view blood clots during a period?
A: Blood Stasis
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), blood clots during a period are often associated with the condition known as blood stasis. Clots in the menstrual blood are an indication that your energy or Qi is not flowing properly around the body – this is known as Qi Stagnation, one of the most common menstrual clots causes. One main cause of Qi stagnation is Stress which has a negative effect on our Liver. In TCM theory our Liver regulates the smooth circulation of Blood so when it becomes stressed as a result of overwork, too much exercise or overthinking it starts to malfunction resulting in Qi Stagnation.
Q: How do clots affect my fertility?
A: They reduce your fertility
Having blood clots in your period is a sign that you have Qi Stagnation. Qi Stagnation has a negative domino effect on your body’s ability to reproduce. Clots during a period impair fertility.
- As the Qi Stagnates it is less able to effectively move your Blood. Thus the Blood starts to stagnate. The stagnated blood slows down and becomes stuck and sticky – which manifests in blood clots – or Stasis of the Blood.
- Poor blood flow can affect your ovaries – if they are insufficiently nourished they will not produce good quality eggs – nor will they be able to release them effectively.
- Blood that stagnates is less able to circulate thus it cannot adequately nourish the uterus – which in turn cannot effectively perform its role of contracting to push out the old lining of the uterus – nor enable effective implantation let alone to sustain the growth of a healthy embryo.
- This has a negative impact on your fertility as if your blood isn’t flowing as smoothly as it should to and from your uterus, your uterine lining may not be healthy enough to support implantation and a growing embryo. If you experience heavy menstrual bleeding with clots, treatment is necessary.
Other causes of Blood Stasis – what else causes blood clots in a menstrual period?
In TCM Blood Stasis is viewed as the result of Cold Stagnation. Cold stagnation prevents the effective circulation of blood causing the blood to congeal and form clots. Eating excessive cold or raw food, living in a cold or damp environment, exposing your feet, abdomen and particularly your lower back to a cool environment can cause Cold Stagnation.
How to remove menstrual clots, resolve heavy menstrual bleeding and promote effective uterine function?
Natural Chinese Herbal Treatments
Menstrual Maintenance
Menstrual Maintenance by GinSen are supplements for regulating the menstrual cycle naturally. Ideal for irregular periods – absent periods, heavy/light period flow, period clotting and balancing hormones. It also supports the well-being of female fertility organs to help promote fertility.
How to stop menstrual clots? Acupuncture to remove menstrual clots
Acupuncture is excellent at helping to promote blood flow to the uterus and in doing helps to move Blood Stasis – There are a number of excellent research articles that demonstrate that acupuncture is helpful at promoting blood flow within and around the uterus.
During an acupuncture treatment single use sterile needles will be expertly placed onto specific acupuncture points. Some of these may be located on the lower back, abdomen or even on the arms and legs. These points may be combined with a warming herb called Moxa which helps to energise the flow of Qi which in turn enables the Stagnant Blood to circulate more effectively.
Acupuncture treatment encourages easier, pain free and clot free periods. Acupuncture helps to remove blood clots during periods and is an effective treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding with clots.
Get in touch today
For more information about how GinSen’s team of highly skilled practitioners can help remove our menstrual clots and restore your fertility please book your free consultation today.
For more information about how Chinese Medicine can help you to remove menstrual clots, book your free consultation with our Chinese Medicine experts today
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We can’t guarantee the treatment result, as the symptoms of conditions are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person. The treatment length and recovery time also varies for individual. Please visit our clinics website: GinSen where a specialists will discuss your care and provide a consultation, and the treatment will be designed to meet your individual needs.
