Hemofilia

A Common Misspelling for Hemophilia

Are you looking for information about Hemophilia?

Hemofilia is a common misspelling for Hemophilia.

What is a bleeding disorder?

A bleeding disorder exists when it is hard for a person to stop bleeding. When a person bleeds, the blood clots, stopping the bleeding. The clotting process, also called coagulation, changes blood from a liquid to a solid state. It takes both blood cells (called platelets) and proteins (called clotting factors) for blood to clot properly. When a person has a bleeding disorder, the blood platelets are not working like they should, or there are not enough platelets or clotting factors in the blood. This causes a person to bleed for longer periods of time than normal. Bleeding disorders tend to run in families and can be hard to detect in women. These disorders can be controlled, so a person can have a healthy and full life.

Are there different types of bleeding disorders?

Yes, there are different types of bleeding disorders a person can have. The two most common types of bleeding disorders are:

• Hemophilia - while this well-known disease affects men and women, most people who have hemophilia are men. Even though most people think hemophiliacs bleed to death from cuts, they actually suffer problems with internal bleeding into the joints, muscles, and organs. Treatment involves replacing the missing clotting factor in a person's blood, done through intravenous (IV) treatment, where a small tube is inserted into a vein.
• von Willebrand Disease (VWD) - a lesser known bleeding disorder that affects both women and men, VWD is the most common bleeding disorder in women. This disease causes bleeding in the intestines, bleeding gums, and very heavy menstrual periods in women. Treatment involves the release of stored clotting factors in the blood, or in severe cases replacing the clotting factor through IV treatment or with a nasal spray. When a person with VWD has a dental procedure or dental surgery, they need to take medication beforehand to reduce bleeding. Over the past 20 years, researchers have made great progress in diagnosing and treating VWD.

Is heavy bleeding during menstruation a bleeding disorder?

Heavy bleeding, or menorrhagia, during menstruation is not necessarily caused by a bleeding disorder. But, heavy bleeding can be a symptom of the bleeding disorder von Willebrand Disease (VWD). When a woman has heavy bleeding, it can be hard to find the exact cause of the bleeding. Certain gynecological diseases, using an intrauterine device for birth control, and taking medications can also cause heavy bleeding in women.

What are the symptoms of bleeding disorders? How would I know if I had one of these disorders?

Symptoms of bleeding disorders include:

• Very heavy bleeding with menstrual periods (menorrhagia)
• Unusual bleeding after injury or surgery
• Bleeding from small cuts that starts and stops over several hours
• Frequent or prolonged nosebleeds
• Unusual bleeding from the mouth or gums after a tooth extraction

If you have any of the following symptoms, you should discuss them with your health care provider. Your doctor may order tests to rule out a bleeding disorder, including a test for VWD. Be aware that your test results could be affected by your menstrual cycle. Because of this, tests may need to be done at different points in your menstrual cycle. Also know that just because your mother or your sister may also have had heavy periods, this may not be normal for you. If you are having heavy periods with no known reason, you need to be tested for VWD. Not all health care providers test for VWD when a woman is having heavy bleeding. In December 2001, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued a report to health care providers to consider VWD as a possible cause for heavy menstrual bleeding in women. ACOG now recommends testing for VWD when:

• a woman is having heavy menstrual bleeding with no known cause;
• an adolescent is having heavy menstrual bleeding without other cause (testing should be done before starting any hormone therapy like birth control pills)
• hysterectomy for heavy menstrual bleeding is being considered.