For several days each month there is blood loss from the vagina. The amount of blood loss varies from period to period, and between women. The nature of the blood loss may also vary with some women having a dark scanty loss, and others having a heavier loss which is a brighter red. Sometimes clots are passed, especially if the loss is heavy. Sometimes there are small flaky fragments in with the menstrual blood. A normal amount of blood loss during each period is between 20 and 60 ml. (This is about 4 to 12 teaspoonfuls.) Bleeding can last up to eight days but five days is the average. The bleeding is usually heaviest on the first two days. Some pain in the lower tummy (abdomen) and pelvic pain - period pain - is common and normal.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/womens-health/periods-and-period-problems