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What is a bleeding disorder?
Are there different types of bleeding disorders?
What is von Willebrand Disease (VWD)?
What is hemophilia?
How are bleeding disorders treated?
Does heavy bleeding during my period mean I have a bleeding disorder?
How would I know if I had a bleeding disorder?
Are routine tests for bleeding disorders always accurate?
Why is it important to find out if I have a bleeding disorder?
See also...
I am twenty-five years old and love to exercise, eat out and go dancing. I've always bled heavily during my periods but never talked to a doctor about it. My mother and sisters also have heavy periods, so I thought it was normal.
A few months ago I realized my period was interfering with my life. Every month I was afraid to go out with my friends when I had my period. I worried I would bleed through my pants. A lot of times I'd miss work and skip the gym because I felt so lousy.
So I decided to speak to a gynecologist. She ran some blood tests to rule out a bleeding disorder. At first, the test results came out normal. But my doctor repeated them to be sure.
The second time, the tests showed I had a bleeding disorder called von Willebrand Disease. My doctor also found I had low levels of iron in my blood or anemia. Now I take birth control pills to control my periods. Since I started taking the pill I bleed less and have a lot more energy. I'm also less self-conscious when I have my period. So going to work and hanging out with friends is more fun.
A bleeding disorder is a health problem that makes it hard for a person to stop bleeding. Normally when a person is hurt, the body forms a blood clot to stop the bleeding quickly. This clotting process, called coagulation, changes blood from a liquid to a solid state. For blood to clot, the body needs a type of blood cell called platelets, and blood proteins called clotting factors. In people with bleeding disorders, the blood platelets or clotting factors do not work correctly or are in short supply. So, these people bleed longer than normal. With medicine, people with bleeding disorders can lead full and active lives.
Bleeding disorders tend to run in families and can be especially hard to spot in women. More than 2.5 million women in the United States have bleeding disorders and don't know it.
Yes, there are many different kinds of bleeding disorders. The two most common are von Willebrand Disease (VWD) and hemophilia.
Von Willebrand Disease is the most common bleeding disorder. One to two percent of the population or 1.4 to 2.8 million people in the United States has this disease. VWD occurs about as often in men as it does in women.
Women with VWD may have:
Hemophilia is a well-known but rare bleeding disorder that runs in families. Both men and women have this condition, but almost all people with severe hemophilia are men. However, many women have mild symptoms of hemophilia. This condition is caused by a shortage of clotting factors needed to stop bleeding.
Signs of hemophilia include:
While there is no cure for bleeding disorders, medicine can control the symptoms. Treatment for bleeding disorders varies. Most women with von Willebrand disease do not need to take medicine at all. People with mild bleeding problems may only need treatment before or after surgery, dental work and injury. More severe cases can be controlled with daily medicines.
Treatments for bleeding disorders include:
Doctors called hematologists have special training in bleeding disorders. They can help you find the best treatment options. With treatment and regular visits to the doctor, women with bleeding disorders can lead full and active lives.
Not always. Research shows that bleeding disorders are the cause of heavy periods for about 1 in 5 women. In other cases, heavy periods may be caused by:
Roughly twenty percent of women who see their doctors for heavy periods have a bleeding disorder, most often von Willebrand disease. It is important to keep in mind that even if heavy periods run in your family, it might still be a sign of a problem. So, if you have heavy menstrual bleeding, be sure to ask your doctor about testing for bleeding disorders.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggests testing for von Willebrand disease when:
Testing should be done before hormone therapy like birth control pills is started.
Some common symptoms of bleeding disorders include:
If you have any of these symptoms, you should discuss them with your doctor. Keep in mind that signs of bleeding disorders in women are often mild.
Research shows that diagnosing bleeding disorders in women is difficult. One study found that women had symptoms for an average of 16 years before they were diagnosed. Plus, since tests can show wrong results many women are told they don't have a bleeding disorder when in fact they do.
No, they are not. Screening tests often come out normal even when a woman has a bleeding disorder. This is because many things can affect test results, including:
Tests should be repeated to be sure a bleeding disorder is not overlooked. Women with signs of a bleeding disorder should see a doctor called a hematologist. These doctors will know that tests should be repeated to get a correct diagnosis.
Since bleeding disorders can cause heavy bleeding, exhaustion and depression, finding out that you have one and getting treatment can really improve your life. Studies show that women with untreated bleeding disorders are more likely to:
Untreated bleeding disorders can also cause serious health problems such as:
All of these problems can be prevented or controlled with medicine. If you have symptoms of a bleeding disorder, talk to your doctor. If you know you have a bleeding disorder, be sure to tell your doctor, nurse, midwife and dentist.
You can find out more about bleeding disorders by contacting the National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) at 800-994-9662 or the following organizations:
HANDI/National Hemophilia Foundation
Phone Number: (800) 424-2634
Internet Address: http://www.hemophilia.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hereditary Blood Disorders Team
Internet Address: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hbd/default.htm
Project Red Flag
Internet Address: http://www.projectredflag.org/
World Federation of Hemophilia
Phone Number: (514) 875-7944
Internet Address: http://www.wfh.org/
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Phone Number: (301) 592-8573
Internet Address: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
This FAQ was reviewed by:
Charles M. Peterson, MD, MBA
Director, Division of Blood Diseases and Research
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
Current as of October 2005
This site is owned and maintained by the Office on Women's Health
in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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