Q: Hello ma’am, throw more light on menstruation

A: The uterus (womb) usually prepares to receive a fertilized egg every month and when that fails, the thickened lining of the uterus, which had prepared to receive a baby, is shed. That is what comes out as menstrual blood.

Usually, this blood does not contain clots as anti-coagulants in blood ensure that this doesn’t happen. However, if the blood is flowing faster than the anticoagulants can work, then clots appear. This would usually happen on the heaviest day of the flow. So, clots do not necessarily suggest a problem.

But, if this appears to be the case on all or most days of the period, or you find that you’re using a sanitary towel per hour for several hours, please see your gynaecologist. Conditions that may lead to excessive bleeding and therefore, clots in blood during a menstrual period include a…