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Ovulation marks an essential moment in your menstrual cycle. At this time, an egg is released that may or may not become fertilized and thus produce either pregnant (pregnancy) or shed (period).
Ovulation can cause light bleeding or spotting due to hormonal fluctuations; typically seen as small blood clots that measure about dime- or nickel-sized on heavy flow days.
Why Do I Get Blood Clots When Ovulating?
Ovulation bleeding is when you bleed around ovulation, midway through your menstrual cycle. It’s often light, just a drop or two of pink or red blood.
Hormone fluctuations during ovulation usually cause this bleeding, primarily changes in estrogen levels, known as “estrogen breakthrough bleeding.”
This bleeding doesn’t signal pregnancy. If you spot at other times, reasons might include uterine fibroids, STIs, birth control changes, or abdominal bleeding.
Normally, ovulation bleeding isn’t a cause for worry. If it’s slight, you might skip using a tampon. But if you experience signs of infection like pain, odor, or unusual discharge along with bleeding, consult a doctor.
Concerned About Experiencing Blood Clots or Unusual Bleeding During Ovulation?
Many women hesitate to seek professional assistance for their menstrual cycles, particularly when they suspect passing blood clots or experiencing heavy bleeding. It’s unfortunate because when something feels wrong it is vital that it gets checked out by a healthcare provider immediately.
Ovulation bleeding and spotting are not necessarily indicative of pregnancy; rather they result from hormone fluctuations associated with ovulation causing the uterine lining to shed.
Most ovulation spotting is very subtle and often goes undetected, however if you are concerned about your spotting or blood flow it’s advisable to track it using a calendar, diary or period tracking app like Clue (available on the app store) in order to get an accurate picture of what’s happening within your body each month and know when you need to seek medical help from a gynecologist.
Possible Causes
Ovulation bleeding can have many causes, not all of them serious. Spotting around the time of ovulation could be an early indicator of pregnancy (implantation bleeding), which involves light pink or brown blood that does not threaten embryos; taking a pregnancy test would show whether this is indeed happening.
However, spotting coupled with pain or other non-typical symptoms could indicate more serious issues.
Bleeding between periods can be caused by structural problems in the uterus or ovaries like endometriosis and uterine polyps, or medications taken such as hormone therapies or anticonvulsants; or it could even happen as part of menopause when levels of hormones that regulate menstruation begin to shift drastically and cause heavy periods.
Bleeding may even be a telltale sign of cancer: including uterine, cervical, and vaginal cancers.
Implications
If you’re experiencing light bleeding with small blood clots the size of quarters, don’t panic; this could be an indicator of ovulation spotting: period-like bleeding that happens when the uterus sheds its lining and can often appear pink, red, or brown depending on how fast your blood moves.
However, if your bleeding and ovulation patterns cause more serious concerns it would be prudent to consult a doctor. Irregular ovulation could be a telltale sign of polycystic ovary syndrome or hypothyroidism which could wreak havoc with fertility and cause issues with spotting.
If you are concerned about your spotting, using a period or ovulation tracking app may help provide details to share with health care providers who can then determine what may be causing it and suggest possible treatment solutions.
Maintaining contact with doctors as well as following up on any health concerns is key in order to feel more at ease with menstruation cycles.
Treatment
If you are experiencing bleeding between periods, visiting a gynecologist may be of great benefit. Spotting may indicate sexually transmitted infections like Chlamydia, Gonorrhea or Human Papillomavirus (HPV), as well as pelvic inflammatory disease.
Your doctor will ask about your menstrual cycle and health history, and may do a blood test to detect hormonal imbalances that cause heavy menstruation. In addition, an ultrasound or hysterosalpingogram can be performed to check for polycystic ovary syndrome, adenomyosis endometriosis or any other conditions that might contribute to heavy periods.
Blood clots during your period can be treated using medication such as progestin-only pills and intrauterine devices that release progestin; birth control pills or hormonal IUDs, can reduce heavy bleeding by inhibiting uterus lining growth; other drugs like tranexamic acid and leflunomide may treat endometriosis while anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can provide temporary relief.
How Long Does Ovulation Bleeding Last
Ovulation bleeding usually lasts 1-2 days. It’s very light compared to a period. The color varies from light pink to bright red or dark brown, depending on blood flow speed.
Ovulation spotting is typically light pink or red. Remember, any light bleeding outside your regular periods is spotting, usually much lighter than a period.
Bleeding during ovulation is usually not concerning. But if it’s heavy, severe, or prolonged, consult a doctor.
When Should You See a Doctor if You Experience Blood Clots During Ovulation
Numerous home remedies can help with blood clots during ovulation. Here are some:
- Red Raspberry Leaf Tea: Boil a teaspoon of red raspberry tea in water for 5 minutes, strain, add honey, and drink.
- Cold Compress: Apply a cold pack to your lower abdomen for 1-2 minutes, repeat three times, especially if you notice clotting during periods.
- Vitamins: A, B, D, and C ease heavy bleeding. Vitamin A supports red blood cell replication and acts as an antioxidant. Vitamin B6 aids in producing prostaglandins to reduce clots. Vitamin D aids calcium absorption and bone health. Vitamin C helps absorb iron lost during bleeding.
- Turmeric: This spice reduces inflammation and acts as a natural anti-clot agent, confirmed by a 2012 study on curcumin, its active ingredient.
- Ginger: Ginger water is a top home remedy for preventing excess menstrual bleeding. Consume raw ginger or as tea.
Remember, these remedies may not work for everyone. For severe and prolonged bleeding, consult a doctor.
