Do you get black period blood during your menstrual cycles? Do you get blood clots? Do you have a longer period than your peers, lasting up to eight to nine days? It is normal for girls to be experiencing various kinds of menstrual symptoms. One of the most commonly asked questions may pertain to the color, duration and consistency of the menstrual flow.
Do You Get Black Period Blood During Your Menstrual Cycles?
Some would say they get black blood clots, and they wonder is it normal for period blood to be black. Some say they get longer periods, with the color of discharge changing. In some cases, they experience weird changes in the color of their period. We received some commonly asked questions, such as “Why is my period blood dark brown almost black”, and “What causes black period blood”. If you are one of those that wish to know more about topics such as these, then read on as you might find this article very useful.
What Does Black Period Blood Mean?
For starters, it is normal for the menstrual flow to vary in color. At the beginning of the period, you notice that the color might be bright red, then it may turn brown to dark brown at the end of the period. This is normal for most cases. It could be because you are releasing blood clots that may appear like dark black or dark brown almost black menstrual flow. The most common explanation is that you are expelling blood that is older or “older blood”, hence the darker color, usually in the form of dark black blood. Then consistency could also be different.
There are times when you would release red blood color that’s thinner in consistency, while there are times when you get dark brown to black period that almost looks like blood clots in consistency. It is normal to get these different kinds of consistency. Usually the thick ones come out in the middle of your period, around the second or third day from the first day you bleed. But in some cases, this can happen during the latter part of your period.
Why is My Period Blood Black?
One may ask, “Why am I getting black blood during my period?” The black colored period might appear like thick black blood. This black blood during period cycles might be indicative of several things. One is that your body might be releasing your period fast so the naturally occurring anticoagulants in your body, that prevent clotting, do not get to act as effectively.
This can create the blood clot that makes it look like you are bleeding black blood. In other cases, it could be that the menstrual blood that you should be releasing regular got old, turning it into a darker color of brown or black.
What Should I be Monitoring When I Get Black Period Blood Coming Out?
What Should I be Monitoring When I Get Black Period Blood Coming Out?
You should monitor how long you will be releasing blood like this and if you have any pains or cramps. If you noticed that you seem to be releasing it for a couple of days, then it is best that you go to see your doctor. Apart from noticing if you are experiencing cramping or pains, you should also check for foul smells and unusual itchiness or irritation. If you notice these symptoms, best consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Can Birth Control Cause Black Period Blood?
According to some health experts, being on the pill may have some effects including changes in your vaginal and menstrual discharge. If you are taking a new brand of birth control pill and your body is adjusting to it, you may experience hormonal effects. One of these might be the changes in how fast your body builds your uterine lining. What might happen is that the lining builds slower than usual.
As we learned earlier, old blood is dark blood, so the slower the blood comes out the darker the blood becomes. This might be one of the reasons why black blood during period cycles occurs. So depending on how your body reacts to the birth control bill, it might take you longer to generate a uterine lining thick enough to prompt blood release.
If My Period Blood is Black, Does This Mean I Might be Pregnant?
Not definitely, but it is best to get yourself checked right away if you suspect that you might be. It is also possible that the presence of blood or spotting could be a sign that you are pregnant. Implantation bleeding can cause you to generate something that looks like dark black blood. If you get this symptom way after your period is done, you should go to see your doctor just to make sure what is causing it.
If I am Pregnant, Does Black Blood Period Mean I’m Having a Miscarriage?
On the other hand, if you are spotting black blood between periods, this might not be normal and might be a sign of miscarriage. This is assuming that you are aware that you are pregnant. But if you are aware that you’re pregnant, and you get dark blood coming out of you, be it spotting or a flowing type of period, seek immediate medical attention. As a rule of thumb, if you are pregnant and you get spotting, best have it checked right away.
Will I Likely Get Thick Black Blood If I Get a Late Period?
Will I Likely Get Thick Black Blood If I Get a Late Period?
Black period will likely come out on your period days as a result of old blood left in the vagina or the uterus. As the blood stays inside you longer, the darker the color might turn out to be. So in this case, delayed menstruation can cause the menstrual flow to come out as black blood clots or dark black blood.
Should I be Worried When I am Bleeding Black Blood?
The best way to get rid of any anxiety about this is to consult your doctor right away. There are so many potential reasons for changes in vaginal discharge and menstrual flow that the best way to be secure is to actually have yourself checked. As a rule of thumb, any sudden change in vaginal discharge especially the presence of thick black blood in between periods should be a red flag to you. If and when you experience such symptoms, go to see your doctor right away.
What Does It Mean When I Get Black Blood Period Between My Periods?
When other possible reasons are ruled out – such as, pregnancy, miscarriage, and hormonal imbalance – the best way to find out what is causing the dark blood bleeding in between your periods is to get checked. Usually, the doctor would advise that you get an ultrasound, and a physical examination, to determine the reason for bleeding. In some cases, there could be dark colored discharge when there are foreign objects left in your vagina, such as a tampon or a condom that you may have used.
These foreign objects can cause infection in your vagina, and can disturb the natural flora and fauna in your vaginal ecosystem. In some extreme cases, they can cause lesions that can cause bleeding. This is what can cause you to bleed in between periods. In any case, any sudden change in vaginal discharge is best handled by having yourself checked as there are various reasons why this would happen.
I Get Dark Black Blood a Couple of Days After My Period, Is This Normal?
Yes, this could be a normal thing, but again to be sure, get yourself checked. Off the bat, if you get these several days after your period is done, it could just be your body expelling the remaining blood inside, such as in your cervix. This could be blood that didn’t come out during the regular first few days of your period. In this specific case, there is nothing to be alarmed about.
Can Hormonal Changes Cause Black Blood During Period?
In some cases, people with hormonal imbalance can experience getting black blood during their period cycles. The reason for this is that your hormones are responsible for the proper build up and shedding of the uterine lining. For normal menstruation to occur, the uterine lining has to be thick enough for it to shed – hence, causing you to menstruate. If you have hormonal imbalance, this can cause the uterine lining to take up more time than usual to shed, which causes delay in menstruation. And as stated above, delays in menstruation can cause the blood inside you to turn darker than usual.
Moreover, hormonal imbalance can also cause blood clots, which may also come out as dark brown to black colored menstruation. So yes, hormonal changes or imbalance may be one of the factors that can cause you to release dark colored blood.
Can Stress be a Factor in Getting Black Blood During Period?
Yes, it can be a factor. Stress can make you skip you period, which can lead to the thinning of the uterine wall. This thinning can cause delays in the shedding of your uterine lining, which in turn, delays your menstruation. And as stated above, if your period is delayed, this can cause the blood to turn darker than usual, resulting dark black period.
If I Get Dark Colored Period, Could This Mean That I Have an Infection?
To put it simply, not all the time, as evidenced by the aforementioned possible number of reasons why you are getting a dark colored period. There are infections that may cause you to have yellow to greyish discharge. During your regular menstruation, it is normal to experience some strong scents with blood, especially if you haven’t had your period in a long time. It is also normal to experience release of blood clots. But if you experience continuous bleeding after a week, especially if this is accompanied by severe pelvic pain or cramps, then it is definitely time to see a doctor. You might have more than an infection and the only way to properly address it is to be diagnosed.
In any case, if you get a dark colored discharge, especially if it is foul smelling, it is best to go to your doctor right away to have it checked, as this can be a sign of infection.
Does Black Blood Period a Sign of Cervical Cancer?
The only sure way to diagnose for cervical cancer is to have yourself tested. Having regular pap smears should not only help you prevent but treat early signs of cervical cancer. While black blood may be a sign of cervical cancer, it not conclusive until you are tested given that there a number of possible reasons why you are getting dark colored period. Also, scaring yourself will not help as it may cause you unnecessary stress that can further worsen your situation. So to have peace of mind, best get yourself tested and checked.
How Can I Avoid Getting Black Blood Coming Out of Me During My Period?
Depending on the reason why you are getting the dark color blood, you can take the necessary preventive measures. If you are stressed that causes you to skip your period, and hence, get dark colored period, then you should take steps toward managing your stress. There are various ways to go about it, such as taking yoga classes, meditation classes, and other mindfulness practices that will promote overall wellness. If the cause of getting black blood is hormonal, you can see a doctor that specializes in this to help you medicate and treat the condition accordingly.
There are also various alternatives, such as full-blown medication, and there are also more natural alternatives. You can ask your doctor about this. In some cases, doctors may prescribe anticoagulants that work to breakdown the blood clots. Depending on what is causing it, the way to prevent and treat it will vary.
Please note that while these questions and the answers are reflective of what might usually be the case, every person’s situation still varies. In so stating, it is still best to consult a professional before jumping into conclusions as to what is causing your symptoms.