Menstrual health: What you need to know about period blood clots

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. A healthy menstrual cycle involves the brain, ovaries and uterus working in close harmony, to facilitate the development of an egg and the endometrium lining of the uterus, in anticipation of a possible pregnancy. In the absence of pregnancy, the endometrial lining is discarded by the body in the form of menstrual flow.

While menstrual flow typically passes freely through the cervix and leaves the body, there are times when the flow is interrupted by menstrual clots, which are lumps of coagulated blood or tissue. While the presence of some clots can be considered normal, they can also signal to the presence of a more pressing underlying medical concern. Hormones essay a central role in the menstrual cycle, particularly in its regulation.

In the beginning of the cycle, the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which is produced in the brain’s pituitary gland, induces the formation of an egg. Nearly halfway through the cycle, a surge of oestrogen causes the uterine lining to thicken, to facilitate the implantation of a fertilised egg. Once the oestrogen levels are sufficiently high, a surge of luteinising hormone (LH) triggers ovulation, during which the egg matures and is released.

As the ovulation cycle begins, the progesterone level rises to help make the uterine lining stable for a potential pregnancy. If fertilisation doesn’t occur, the oestrogen and progesterone levels recede, which leads to menstruation. While the body typically produces anticoagulants or blood thinners as part of the menstrual cycle, there are times when the menstrual blood coagulates before leaving the body.