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Miscarriage and Period clots are two different things. However, they have some similar features that confuse people.

The symptoms are, at times, so similar that a person might experience pregnancy loss even before they get to know that they are pregnant.

Hence, the symptoms, even if not severe, shall never be ignored. Although they have some similar symptoms, they differ significantly in many ways. 

Key Takeaways

  1. Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week, whereas period clots are blood clots that can occur during menstruation.
  2. Miscarriage can be a traumatic and emotional experience, while period clots are a normal part of the menstrual cycle for many women.
  3. Miscarriage is accompanied by heavy bleeding, while period clots are smaller and less frequent.

Miscarriage vs Period Clots 

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week of gestation. It is accompanied by symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, cramping, and the passing of tissue or clots from the uterus. Period clots are a normal part of menstruation for many women. During menstruation, the uterus sheds its lining, which can result in the passing of blood clots or tissue.

Miscarriage vs Period Clots

The term Miscarriage refers to the death of an embryo or foetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. This occurs during the trimester of pregnancy, and it is almost always difficult to state an appropriate reason for miscarriage.

The symptoms of miscarriage mostly include- vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal, back, and pelvis pain, and tiny lumps in vaginal discharge.

However, bleeding is not a significant symptom of miscarriage. It is still preferable to get checked if the symptoms become severe.  

A Period clot is composed of blood cells, uterine lining tissue, and fibrinogen, a substance that regulates their flow. These clots are a very natural part of menstruation, and in most cases, there is nothing to be concerned about.

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However, at times, it can be a sign of a health condition. They primarily occur due to the heavy blood flow and are frequent during the first 2 days of our period cycle. 

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison  Miscarriage   Period Clots 
 Blood Clot   The bleeding clots are more severe compared to normal period clots.   Period blood clots are not as severe as during miscarriage. 
 Symptoms    Might consist of symptoms like- back pain and pelvis pain.   Usually does not consist of symptoms like back and pelvis pain. 
 Duration   Blood clots in case of a miscarriage can go over a long period.  Period clots appear as a result of Periods that follow a significant monthly cycle and happens for a certain number of days every month.  
 Products The presence of pieces of tissue, large blood clots are an indication of miscarriage.   Has no presence of tissues. 
 Uterus contraction   Uterus contraction happens more severely.  Uterus contractions can take place. However, they are not as severe as the ones during a miscarriage.  

What is Miscarriage?

The term Miscarriage refers to the death of an embryo or foetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. This occurs during the trimester of pregnancy, and it is almost always difficult to state an appropriate reason for miscarriage.

The bleeding clots are more severe compared to normal period clots.  

The symptoms of miscarriage include- vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal, back, and pelvis pain, and tiny lumps in vaginal discharge.

At times, there can also be the presence of some pieces of tissue. Miscarriage blood clots can continue for a long time and are severe throughout.  

The uterus contractions during a miscarriage are severe, and the pain is unbearable. Hence, it is always preferable to consult a doctor before anything serious takes place.

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Miscarriage has no significant symptoms, and the symptoms are similar to period clots. However, the symptoms are more severe than normal period clots.

What are Period Clots?

A Period clot is composed of blood cells, uterine lining tissue, and fibrinogen, a substance that regulates their flow.

These clots are a very natural part of menstruation, and in most cases, there is nothing to be concerned about.

Period blood clots are not as severe as during miscarriage.  

The symptoms of the period do not include back and pelvis pain. However, there can be severe pain in the lower abdominal area.

Unlike miscarriage, there is no presence of tissues in period clots. Periods appear during a particular monthly cycle and do not persist for a longer period, like miscarriage clots.   

Period clots primarily occur due to the heavy blood flow and are frequent during the first 2 days of our period cycle. Here, uterus contractions do take place.

However, they are not as severe as the ones during a miscarriage. Even though period clots are natural, they can be a sign of a health condition at times.  

 Main Differences Between Miscarriage and Period Clots 

  1. The term Miscarriage refers to the death of an embryo or foetus before the 20th week of pregnancy, whereas, A Period clot is composed of blood cells, uterine lining tissue, and fibrinogen, a substance that regulates their flow.  
  2. The bleeding clots in the case of a miscarriage are more severe compared to normal period clots. On the other hand, period clots are not as severe as during miscarriage.  
  3. Miscarriage consists of symptoms like- back pain and pelvis pain, whereas the symptoms of the period do not include back and pelvis pain.  
  4. Blood clots in case of a miscarriage can go over a long period. On the other hand, Period clots appear as a result of Periods that follow a significant monthly cycle and happen for a certain number of days every month.  
  5. At times, during miscarriage, there can also be the presence of some pieces of tissue, whereas, in the case of period clots, there is no presence of tissues.  
  6. Uterus Contractions during a miscarriage are more severe compared to the ones during normal period clots. 

References 

  1. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0216724 
  2. https://www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(19)30723-1/fulltext 

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By Piyush Yadav

Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.