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Is Stringy Period Blood a Cause for Concern? If you have never had stringy period blood during your cycle before, it can be confusing or even scary to see for the first time. But blood that’s occasionally stringy, sticky, or clumpy is completely within the scope of what normal period blood can look like. Here’s everything about what’s normal, what’s not, and what you should be concerned about when it comes to the blood you see during your period. What determines the consistency of your period?Stringy period blood typically isn’t a cause for concern. In most cases, a “stringy” or gel-like consistency is just a blood clot leaving your uterus. Blood clots that are small (about the size of a quarter) are normal.Remember that your “period” refers to the first days of each menstrual cycle, when the lining of your uterus is discarded by your body. Period blood is a mixture of this discarded uterine lining, blood, and vaginal fluid. The first day or two of your period tend to be the heaviest days of bleeding. These are also the days that you’ll most likely notice varying consistencies in the blood your body is releasing. Stringy period bloodLong strands of blood with a sticky, fluid consistency can be highly concentrated with the uterine lining that your body is shedding. This stringy period blood is typically dark or bright red. Clumpy period bloodAs your period continues, you may notice blood that’s jelly-like or broken up into thick clumps. This is typically caused by blood clots that are passing through your body. This is normal during any part of your period. However, you may be more likely to see this on later days of your period as your flow begins to slow down. These clots may be bright red, dark red, or brown. Watery period bloodToward the end of your cycle, your period blood may appear watery and thin. It also may grow darker in colour as the blood begins to oxidise. Period blood that’s bright red and watery can be fresh blood coming straight from your uterus. This may indicate an injury or a miscarriage. Seek medical attention if you notice bright red, watery blood coming from your uterus, especially, if there’s a chance you might be pregnant. If you’re consistently passing large blood clots during your period, you should speak to your primary doctor or your gynecologist. What might large blood clots in your period mean?Larger, more frequent blood clots can be an indicator of an underlying medical condition. Heavy periods that last several days and consist of multiple blood clots can sometimes be a symptom of: • Uterine fibroids, muscular growths that line the wall of you uterus• Adenomyosis, a condition that involves a buildup of tissue in your uterus• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that causes cysts and swelling in your ovaries• Endometriosis, a condition that causes endometrial tissue to grow outside of your uterus• Polyps, which are small, benign growths in your uterus lining• Endometrial cancer, which causes malignant tumors in your reproductive organs• Bleeding disorders• Thyroid conditions• Complications from an intrauterine device (IUD) • Vitamin K deficiency When to see a doctorEveryone who has a monthly menstrual cycle experiences their period differently. Your period might even be different for you every time you have one, varying in how long it lasts, the symptoms that come with it, and how much you bleed. Prolonged, noticeable changes in your menstruation cycle should be discussed with your doctor. Symptoms to look out for include: • Bruising easily, fatigue, or shortness of breath, all of which can indicate anemia• Increased cramping during your period pain or bleeding during or after sex• Clots that appear to grow larger in size as your period progresses• Soaking through pads every hour or soaking through your outer clothing• Watery discharge that’s bright red or gray• Heavy period bleeding that increases or continues after seven days (menometrorrhagia) • Stringy period blood usually just means you are at the part of your menstrual cycle where blood flow is the heaviest. Blood that’s sticky or clotting together is normal during this time of the month. If you notice significant changes to your monthly cycle, including lots of large blood clots that you never noticed before, you should speak to a doctor about possible underlying conditions. Even if you’ve consistently had your period every month for most of your life, it’s totally normal to have questions about what exactly is coming out of your body—especially since the consistency of menstrual blood isn’t always, well, consistent. “A fun fact is that menstrual blood is different from blood anywhere else in body in that it usually doesn’t clot, which makes sense because if the blood immediately clotted then it wouldn’t come out,” says ob-gyn Jennifer Ashton, M.D. Related: 7 Reasons Your Period Is Heavier Than UsualSo if your period’s different from the blood in other parts of your body, what’s it supposed to look like? Although Ashton notes that there hasn’t been any rigorous scientific analysis of the viscosity of menstruation, “I think the best way to describe it is that it shouldn’t be thin like Kool-Aid and it shouldn’t be thick like ketchup.” Your period blood’s consistency is typically somewhere in between. Of course, that isn’t always the case. Here’s what it means if your menstrual blood is… Thick and ClumpyOnce in a while during heavy periods, every woman will notice a clot of blood in their toilet bowl, and that’s absolutely fine. According to the CDC, blood clots that are less than the size of a quarter are no big deal. “But the bigger and larger the clots, the more significant it is,” says Ashton. “Women shouldn’t be pulling large stuff out of their underwear or seeing it in the bowl. That’s not normal.” Big blood clots could be a sign of something hormonal or a small, non-cancerous growth inside the uterus that’s called a uterine fibroid. A study from the Birmingham Women’s Hospital found as many as 70 percent of women will have uterine fibroids before turning 50, and although many don’t have negative repercussions, some can result in pregnancy issues and pain—so it’s worth talking to a health care provider to make sure everything’s okay. Here's how to make sure you have a happy and healthy vagina. Thin and WateryWhile some women just tend to have lighter periods, thin and watery period blood could also be a sign of something else. “In general if you see a watery discharge, whatever tainted color it might be, it could be coming from an ovarian tumor or a fallopian tumor,” says Ashton, noting that it’s hard to tell without an actual exam—so you should definitely book an appointment with your doctor if you notice your period is noticeably thinner than usually. Related: Why You Fart More On Your PeriodSlippery and Mucus-yIf you’ve noticed that your period is a little slicker than usual, that’s probably just because your menstruation blood has been mixed with some cervical mucus. “In the canal that leads up to the uterus, there are mucus-producing cells,” says Wysocki. This mucus actually helps protect and direct sperm to the egg—or can also thicken when influenced by hormonal contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. Regardless, it’s not a big deal if some of it gets mixed in with your period blood. Of course, you know your body best. So if anything seems off, make an appointment with your ob-gyn as soon as possible. |