01/08/2026
Could my heavy periods/ me**es with clots mean I have fibroids?
YES,, they could.
Heavy menstrual bleeding is one of the most common signs of fibroids, especially if the fibroids grow inside the womb (submucosa)or within the muscle of the womb (intramural).
But fibroids are not the only possible cause, so it's important to get checked rather than assume.
Think of your womb like a room with smooth walls. Every month, the womb builds up a soft lining in preparation for pregnancy. If pregnancy doesn't happen, that lining is shed as your period.
Now imagine someone has placed one or more balls (fibroids) inside the wall of that room.
These balls can:
Stretch the lining of the womb, so there's more lining to shed every month.
Prevent the womb from squeezing (contracting) properly during your me**es. Normally, the womb contracts to help stop bleeding.
Fibroids can interfere with this, so the bleeding lasts longer days or becomes heavier.
Sometimes affect the blood vessels supplying the womb, making bleeding even heavier.
Many women become frightened when they see clots, but small clots can happen even in normal periods.
However, if you're passing large clots (about the size of a coin or bigger) along with very heavy bleeding, fibroids are one possible reason.
DOES HEAVY BLEEDING ALWAYS MEAN FIBROIDS?
No. Heavy periods can also be caused by:
Hormonal changes.
Adenomyosis (when the lining of the womb grows into the muscle).
Polyps in the womb.
Bleeding disorders.
Thyroid problems.
Certain contraceptives.
In rare cases, changes in the lining of the womb that need further assessment.
That's why it's important not to diagnose yourself.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
If your periods are unusually heavy:
See a healthcare provider or gynaecologist.
A pelvic ultrasound scan can check whether fibroids are present.
A blood test may be done to check if you've become anaemic.
Your doctor will then discuss the most appropriate treatment based on your age, symptoms, the size and location of any fibroids, and whether you hope to have children in the future.
Heavy periods with clots could be a sign of fibroids, but they don't automatically mean you have fibroids.
~ Doctor Pertingle