Thick periods - should you worry?

2023 Author: Alfred Shackley | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:14

Menstruation accompanies all women of reproductive age with breaks for bearing a baby and breastfeeding. The presence of menstruation indicates that a woman is healthy and ready to conceive. But pathologies do not always manifest themselves, especially in the initial stages.

Often, one of the manifestations of diseases of the reproductive system is a change in the consistency and color of menstrual blood. Thick dark periods can signal both hormonal changes and serious diseases of the reproductive system.

White discharge before menstruation

Very thick and dark blood masses during menstruation are characterized by the appearance a few days before their onset of white discharge. This white discharge can be watery or hard.

1. Normally, the color of vaginal discharge ranges from clear to milky white. They are odorless and may vary in structure. Such white discharge is not intense, does not cause inconvenience to a woman.
2. With the development of pathology, white thick discharge may appear before menstruation. The intensity, consistency and odor of such discharge may differ from normal. This white discharge can be cheesy, jelly-like, or creamy. If there are streaks of blood in the white discharge, you should see a doctor.
3. Normally, cervical mucus is white. It has a dense texture and performs a protective function, protecting the uterus from the ingress of pathogenic microorganisms.

If there is intense white discharge before menstruation, this may be a sign of such diseases:

• Adnexitis. In this disease, inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes occurs. White discharge in this situation is nothing more than a manifestation of the activity of the pathogen.
• Polycystic. Also accompanied by the appearance of white discharge.
• Candidiasis. White discharge may have a curdled consistency. They are accompanied by the appearance of a sour odor and itching.
• Ureaplasmosis. White discharge with an unpleasant odor. May be yellowish rather than white in color.
• Cervicitis. Inflammatory process of the cervix. White profuse discharge appears.
• Gonorrhea. Purulent streaks may be observed in the white discharge.
• Cervical erosion. This disease is accompanied by the appearance of white streaks in the discharge. Over time, closer to the onset of menstruation, the discharge becomes white with red streaks.
• Hormonal changes in the body. Taking birth control pills or undergoing hormonal treatments can cause white discharge.

Pathological causes of thick menstruation

1. Normally, during menstruation, the endometrium is rejected from the uterus. This is necessary so that the fertilized egg can take root and receive full nutrition in the uterus. After ovulation, the endometrium thickens, accumulates blood, and then is rejected by the uterus. This process is menstruation.
2. In the first 2-3 days, the separation of blood is usually very abundant, which is why it is recommended to refrain from playing sports during this period. After the endometrium is detached, small blood vessels rupture. This explains why blood can be quite bright in color, especially at 2-3 days. Starting from day 4, the intensity of menstruation decreases and over time, the separation of blood gradually fades away. During this period, the discharge is already very dark, it can have a denser structure.
3. In some cases, there may be a discharge of dark-colored blood clots. They usually appear towards the end of the cycle or in the morning after sleep. The blood, while the woman is sleeping, is in the vagina, and it begins to gradually clot there. Since the process of blood coagulation during this period is disrupted, it can form a kind of lumps.
4. But it often happens that the discharge initially differs in consistency. This can be both a manifestation of the normal state of the body and pathology. To better understand why thick discharge appears during menstruation, you need to understand the reasons.

Endometriosis

With the development of the pathological process, the division of endometrial cells in the uterus is disrupted. This leads to the fact that the endometrium grows in the vagina and fallopian tubes. This condition is accompanied by abundant secretion of brightly colored blood.

Very thick periods can last much longer than the prescribed period, up to several weeks.

Inflammatory processes of the uterus

In the presence of an inflammatory process, thick periods with clots can be observed. Their presence is due to a violation of the blood supply to the uterus.

Abortion

If a woman not so long ago (about 6 months ago) had an abortion, she may also have thick periods with clots. In a similar situation, damage to the mucous membrane of the uterus occurs, which leads to the formation of so-called pockets in it. They accumulate blood, which over time clots, forming a blood clot.

Myoma

With the proliferation of the muscle tissue of the uterus, there is a very abundant menstruation with a dark discharge. This period can last for several days and be intense. During a gynecological examination, the doctor reveals a thickening of the uterus, characteristic of pregnancy.

Provoking factors

There are several main factors that can provoke the appearance of thick, dark-colored discharge.

These factors are not a pathology, but their prolonged exposure can cause irreparable harm to women's health:

• Taking medications. The use of hormonal agents, as well as agents for normalizing body weight, can be the reason why thick periods of a dark color appear.
• Rapid weight change. With a sharp weight loss or, conversely, weight gain, there is a change in the color and intensity of blood secretion.
• Stress. Prolonged psycho-emotional stress can also provoke changes in menstruation.
• Hard physical work. With excessive physical exertion, muscle hypertonicity may appear, which leads to a change in the structure of the discharge during menstruation.

• Passion for tanning. Ultraviolet radiation can cause changes in the texture of the lining of the uterus. This leads to a disturbance during menstruation and can further provoke endometriosis.

  Important: It has been established that among women who are fond of tanning in a solarium, the frequency of occurrence of fibroids, uterine fibroids and endometriosis is much higher.

• Hypothermia. With a decrease in body temperature, narrowing of the blood vessels occurs. This leads to an increase in the activity of the blood supply, which becomes the cause of disturbances in the formation of the endometrium. It should be noted that hypothermia is often one of the reasons for the appearance of painful sensations in the first days of menstruation.

If thick discharge appears during menstruation, this is a reason to see a doctor. The gynecologist will conduct an examination and prescribe the necessary tests and, if necessary, treatment.

Self-medication in this situation is dangerous, as it can cause a decrease in reproductive function and complete infertility in the future. Therefore, you should not try traditional medicine methods on yourself, especially without consulting a doctor.