Are the blood clots in my period the same as dangerous blood clots in my leg or lungs?
People Often Ask
Are the blood clots in my period the same as dangerous blood clots in my leg or lungs?
No. Those thick, dark “clots” you see in your pad or cup during your period are usually just **shed uterine lining + blood + mucus**. When your endometrium breaks down, your body releases tissue and blood together. If flow is heavy, your body doesn’t have time to fully break it down, so it comes out as gooey clumps.Dangerous clots (DVT/PE) form **inside blood vessels** when platelets and clotting factors build a solid plug in veins/arteries. They don’t look like menstrual clots and you won’t see them externally.Red flags with periods: soaking through a pad/tampon every hour for several hours, clots bigger than a quarter **plus** dizziness, fatigue, or shortness of breath. That’s more about anemia or a bleeding condition—not a DVT—but still worth real medical attention.
