large menstrual blood clots

I'm amazed at how many women are having these problems. I'm 38 no children. My period has been painful. I've been taking Advil for the cramping which is somewhat helpful. I've passed two large clots, the size of oysters. I called my doc who said it was normal and there was no need for an appointment. My last pap smear in Oct was normal so he says I'm experiencing a bad period. And not to worry. What do you all think? I'm freaking out.

Wow! I was just about to go to the ER, but decided to research my blood cloths instead. It's comforting to know that I'm not abnormal, but has anyone received a clear answer of why we get these huge cloths with our periods? Is it all really normal?

I am having the same problem! My clots are like large pieces of liver-solid and dark colored. I had 11 come out between 4 am on Sunday and 10 am on Monday. I have severe pain and have even had to go to the emergency room to have them removed (while I was awake). I am going for my 2nd D and C. I have had a child. Never had them before that--although my periods have always been abnormal to a degree. My doc is INSISTING that because my I am hypothyroid, it is my thyroid causing them. I had read nothing in my research tonight about that. The ER doc says that these clots can be anywhere from the size of golf balls to the size of your hand. They "stop me up" sort of like a cork in a bottle and until I can push them out (if I can push them out), I am in severe pain. I can't live like this every month. They have got to find out what is wrong. I know I have a tiny fibroid, but no other problems that I know.

So I've always been a girl who has had irregular periods. I didn't start my period until I was 16 and it was always at least two weeks long. Sometimes it wouldn't show up at all for months. My mom took me to the doctor and she told me it was my dancing that caused me to be irregular and that normally happens with girls who are athletic and what not.

Seemed like a good explanation and I was fine with it but I stopped dancing when I was 18 and my irregularity still occured. I think I was 19 when I went to the doctor again (this time in the US since I was living up here by then) and he checked my thyroid and told me it was a little swollen. It didn't show at the time which is why we didn't know but he sent me to do some tests and it showed that the thyroid was dormant so he told me it was no big deal it was the thyroid causing the irregularity.

Seem like another good enough explanation so I went with it and brushed it off. A couple or so years later I had my period and it was heavy and lasted about a month going on two and I got worried so I went to another doctor. I told her about the thyroid thing and she examined me and made me take a pregnancy test (mind you I told her there was no way I could be pregnant since I hadn't had sex in five years) and then put me on the pill. She sent me to have an ultrasound too and the specialist told me that everything was healthy and normal so they have no idea why I was bleeding exessively for over a month. The pill seemed to make things regular and I was happy. My period came on the same day every month and left on the same da every month like clockwork.

then I noticed my thyroid was starting to grow cause I could notice the change in my neck. I stopped taking the pill and it seemed the thyroid stopped growing and my period stayed regular for a few months then it was back to irregularity again. I went to the doc for the thyroid thing, the asked about my period and I told them all of what I said above. The doctor sent me to have a whole bunch of tests done which damn near took up my moms entire savings account. $3000.00 in tests and then he sent me to an endocreniologist(sp?) She sent me to do more tests and then said the thyroid is dormant but she wanted to run a few more tests.

By then I had no more money and I have no insurance so I haven't done any of the other tests yet and my thyroid has grown a bit since then. For the last year or so everytime i have my period it lasts for over a month to a two months the most and I have been having this huge clots coming out of me. They're scary and I didn't know that this was even possible. It seems every time I start my period the clots seem to be more frequent and even bigger. I spend so much time in the bathroom I feel like I should move into it and I am scared. I did some research and it helps to know that other people are going through it but I am afraid. I haven't told my mom about the huge clots and how regular they pass because I know she is already worried about her surgery next week and she is worried about me cause she doesn't want my thyroid to grow into a goiter like hers. I don't work and have no money so I can't afford to go back to a doctor right now so I have to wait til I get a job but it is painful. I have cramps and the only way to describe them is like I am having contractions cause they hurt really bad and right now I just want to cry cause I don't know what to do

Wow, ladies. I'd heard & experienced passing small clots, bits of tissue etc. Someone here described passing a larger clot like a labor pain, as it sure was for me! I was in so much pain I told my husband it felt like contractions, much more painful than a heavy period. Then I passed something, which I almost didn't notice, until I checked the toilet. I even scooped it out for lab analysis, if needed. It's about 2" wide, smooth, very dark, and reminded me of an organ like a liver. I understand how clots form down there when blood pools, but when I'm passing bright red (fresh) blood and this "thing" slips out, I wonder if it is the usual uterine wall bits coming out.
We called the insurance dial-a-nurse, who advised I go to the ER, but first I thought I'd read up, since it seems the worst is over for now and the family is asleep. I will call & try to see an OB-GYN ASAP tomorrow. All medical advice I've read states that while clots are not uncommon, not necessarily cause for concern, if they are LARGER THAN A QUARTER CALL YOUR DOCTOR. Please persist until your concerns are addressed, or seek a second opinion. I'm especially leery of male doctors who too easily dismiss this, which could be an indication of a more serious condition. The once-a-year-ovary-shutdown story sounds like hogwash.
I used to have hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid, but this and my iron levels have been fine for at least several years now. Don't see how it might affect the working of the uterus though; perhaps two unrelated conditions?
Because I have tested positive for the V-Leiden mutation, meaning I am twice as likely as the average person to develop blood clots, I am especially concerned about that oyster sized clot.
The recurrence of posts mentioning fibroids has me curious, since a friend once wondered if I had those. Is there a correlation between the two? What can they do for fibroids beyond the hormone therapy some have mentioned that turn women into aggressive witches?

It is truly amazing that all you women have the same problem I have been dealing with for years now. I am 25 years old and I have had an irregular cycle since I was 11 years of age. In the past 2 years however, irregular doesn't even describe what I have been going through. Currently, I have been on my cycle for a little more than 5 weeks. This is the longest cycle I have ever had in my life. Since day 1 of this current cycle, I have had blood clots ranging from quarter size to golf ball size...numberous times a day/everyday!!! About a year ago, I was diagnosed with Dysplasia and PCOS. About 4 years ago, it was discovered that I had hypothyroidism (yet, I no longer have that). I don't know if my current condition has anything to do with my cycle or not. I am truly amazed that I do not cramp at all. I used to cramp when I first started having cycles many years ago, but for the last 3 or 4 years, I never cramp. Has anyone been informed on their current conditions? What are the doctor's saying about your symptoms?

I TOO HAVE FIBROIDS ALONG WITH FACTOR FIVE LEIDEN AND TODAY I PASSED 4 GIANT CLOTS BIGGER THAN EGGS WITH IN AN HOUR and the first one scared the c**p outta me i was yelling for my 4 yr old and i felt someting slip down and stuck i started cycle yesterday so i ran to the bathroom my uterus is tilted so sometime blood pools then spills out. but as i sat a big splash and felt just like i did after i had my son felt like placenta passing....... and it was bigger than a egg and passed 3 more that size with in a hour.. but my cycle is always at least 4 to 7 days late every single month. so im not sure if its the fibroids getting worse because i know intercourse has gotten painfull for days after. and week b4 cycle i can barely walk straight hurts just standing up...but with the factor five leieden my gyno is scared to do hysto. ive had bad cysts since 17 .....32 now and fibroids and lesions. but i so just want them out and my mother in law died almost 3 months ago to a horrid case of pelvic cancer that started with bleeded 15 yrs past menopause and the last stage of that cancer was bleeding and kidney failure so now im skiddish and freaked out

I have always had a few, small clots with my period, BUT I am currently having a LOT of HUGE clots (like I never even imagined and it makes me feel like I am going to pass out)! I am also having a miscarriage. I had a vaginal ultrasound and there was a fetal sac and no fetal tube (we're guessing I am/was around 8 weeks). If you think there is a chance it COULD be a miscarriage, make an appointment with a doctor to make sure, in the event it is a miscarriage, that everything comes out the way it should and you don't end up with an infection. Good luck.

I WAS ON dat two of my cycle when this happened im sooo sorry for your loss......my tubes are tied due to the amount and severity of comlications during pregnancy due to my factor five i go to ob gyn on monday to get the plumbing checked out

Just wanted to let you know that I have experienced a natural miscarriage where the embryo was 8 weeks. I passed many large clots during this time and the main clot that I passed (which was actually the embryo/sac) was exactly 3 inches long and about 1 and a half inches wide. I know that you can pass clots that are that size during normal menstruation, however there is also a good chance that you have experienced a miscarriage as what you have described sounds the same as my miscarriage experience.

I've been getting clots since my period first started when I was 12, I'm 17 now and get clots that very from a few millimeters to maybe ten centimeters long and three thick. I can feel them coming because my stomach starts to cramp and then I stand up and plop, I feel better. I get very sick on my period. I get a fever, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea and bad bad cramps. The worst of it only lasts about the first and second day, but I still get the clots the whole week. I have to use toilet paper just so I don't get a leek, but it's so uncomfortable.

I've been reading up on this tonight and it looks like clots are pretty normal with people. It's from blood pooling in your uterus, which can happen from very natural reasons, such as a large uterus or a small exit. Really from what I've read it's not that bad, but if abnormal things keep happening you need to see a doctor. I'm thinking I need the pill to regulate my hormones. Apparently that can help lessen your chances of Ovarian Cancer! not bad for lighter periods I'd say.

I hope everyone is alright. Research will probably help if your still worried and don't think the doctor knows just what might be going on. You can always ask them if something that fits your symptoms is what you have. After all, they don't know everything and you might not even know your not telling them a symptom that could be important. Best to do your research just in case. =]

Oh and the darker the clot the longer it's been sitting inside, thats why a lot look black and scary looking. Mostly I think it's probably normal if you have the normal length period. If it's longer I'd make sure things are alright. I'm pretty sure I'm normal, but the pain and sickness is still a downer. I hope everyone is alright!

I went off the Pill almost a year ago, and that's when all my problems started. I had a hormonal imbalance but the Dr never told me which hormone was off. I've since had a tubal, and then no period for 4 months. Now it's back with a vengeance! i BLEED HEAVILY for more than 20 days at a time. I'm passing black blood clots through the vaginal canal the size of my palm! It's so scary, like giving birth to little babies. Went to my GYN but she said to go back on the hormones, but I don't want to. The Pill DOES cause cancer, it happened to my closest friend. So I'm waiting it out, but in the meantime, cannot function as every time I stand up, another clot passes and I have to make my way quickly to the bathroom. I've become SEVERELY ANEMIC due to the blood loss and my iron level is lower than low..don't know what to do, but will def. NOT go back on the pill as it gives you so many side effects, and you don't really have a real period whilst on it. I'm hoping my body will balance itself out on its own eventually....but if anyone has been through the same, please help!

Having children does not make you immune to Endometriosis. Most gynocologists do not understand Endometriosis, but pregnancies do not prevent you from getting it and it does not prevent its progression. I would find a new doctor because it seems that he did not want to take the time to deal with something abnormal. GOOD LUCK!

Ladies, you're telling me NO one had done any tests for you or told you you may have endometriosis or checked you for anemia or checked your female hormone levels??? it is normal to have a few clots for some women sometimes. not normal to have such large clots. there are many different reasons. acupuncture and chinese herbal prescription done by a licensed practitioner can definitely help.