Blood Clots

This section will explain what blood clots are, how they are caused and how to detect them.

Blood clots are formed by the process of coagulation - the blood’s natural tendency to clump and plug an injured blood vessel. Blood clots are made of blood cells and fibrin strands. They serve a valuable function in wound healing and stopping the flow of blood after an injury. Injecting into the groin can cause dangerous blood clots to form in the deep veins of the leg. 

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the medical term for the condition where a blood clot completely or partly blocks a deep vein. DVT’s can form at or near the injection site, or lower down the leg, usually around the calm muscle.

Symptoms of a DVT:

• Redness, pain and swelling in your calf muscle
• Swelling in the lower leg

If you inject into your groin and you get these symptoms, you should call an ambulance or go to the hospital emergency department.