How to Diagnose Enlarged Blood Clots in Menses

Menstruation is the monthly shedding of a woman's uterine lining. Menstruation occurs when an unfertilized egg makes its way to your uterus. Once the egg reaches your uterus, the unfertilized egg will begin to disintegrate. As a result, your uterine lining will become thickened and shed during your menses. Bleeding is a natural aspect of your menses, as is passing small blood clots. However, if you begin to experience heavier periods accompanied by large blood clots, you should seek medical attention.

Instructions

Diagnosis

• 1

  Observe the severity of your menstrual cycles. Is your flow heavier than normal (e.g., enough for you to soak through a sanitary product every hour)? This could be a sign of menorrhagia, which is heavy menstrual bleeding.

• 2

  Check the size of your blood clots when you use the restroom. Clots smaller than a dime are normal when passed during menses. If you begin to pass clots that are larger than an inch or bigger than the size of a golf ball, this is abnormal.

• 3

  See a gynecologist immediately if you begin to develop clots that are large in size. Conditions such as menorrhagia can result in iron deficiency anemia, which needs to be treated, according to the Mayo Clinic. Large clots may also indicate other serious conditions.

• 4

  Record in a journal how often you're passing blood clots, what their sizes are and how often you have to change sanitary products. Take this information to your gynecologist to help her assess the cause of your condition.

• 5

  Undergo blood tests and other procedures recommended by your gynecologist to determine if you're suffering from a menstrual disorder such as iron deficiency anemia or from non-cancerous growths called fibroids.