What causes black menstrual blood?

May 11, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lv Aiming
Introduction
Menstrual blood stasis in the uterine cavity, caused by consuming cold foods or exposure to cold during menstruation, leads to poor discharge of menstrual blood. Subsequently, inflammatory stimulation affects the menstrual blood within the uterine cavity, resulting in black-colored menstrual blood. Additionally, intrauterine adhesions following miscarriage or uterine surgical procedures can impair the normal outflow of menstrual blood, causing it to accumulate in the uterine cavity for prolonged periods. When finally discharged, the menstrual blood appears dark or black.

Menstrual blood appearing black can be attributed to either physiological or pathological causes. Pathological causes are generally associated with conditions such as endometritis and intrauterine adhesions, and treatment requires identifying the underlying cause. Specific analyses are as follows:

I. Physiological Causes

Consuming cold foods or being exposed to cold during menstruation may lead to blood stasis within the uterine cavity, resulting in poor menstrual flow and dark-colored discharge. Symptoms typically resolve with proper warmth maintenance and avoidance of cold foods.

II. Pathological Causes

1. Endometritis
Inflammation from endometritis can affect menstrual blood in the uterine cavity due to inflammatory stimulation, causing dark-colored menstrual blood, often accompanied by abdominal pain and discomfort. Treatment may include medications such as Fuke Qianjin tablets, Jinji capsules, and metronidazole tablets, taken as directed by a physician.

2. Intrauterine Adhesions
Adhesions in the uterine cavity following miscarriage or uterine surgery can obstruct normal menstrual flow, leading to prolonged accumulation of blood in the uterus. This results in dark or black menstrual blood upon discharge. Hysteroscopic adhesiolysis is commonly recommended for treatment.

In addition, other conditions such as Asherman's syndrome (intrauterine adhesion), uterine fibroids, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may also cause similar symptoms. It is advisable to visit a gynecologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.


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