At Children’s Minnesota, we provide the only program in the state dedicated to diagnosing and treating bleeding disorders in young women, girls, and people who menstruate.
There are a range of bleeding disorders that we see diagnosed in this population, and research shows that women and girls benefit significantly from a comprehensive model of care.
With proper diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment, young women with bleeding disorders can lead full, active lives, better manage their periods, and more safely undergo surgery, dental work, and childbirth.
Combined hematology and gynecology clinic
Children’s Minnesota proudly offers a combined Hematology and Gynecology clinic for Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA). The AYA Hematology and Gynecology program is the only one of its kind in the region. In this clinic, care is provided by both a hematologist and a pediatric gynecologist in one visit. This team has special experience in ensuring accurate test results during diagnosis and treating common bleeding disorders in women.
Common symptoms of bleeding disorders in women Include
- Periods that are very heavy (Lasting 7 or more days, soaking through a pad/tampon every hour for 2 hours, or blood clots more than 1 inch in diameter)
- Heavy bleeding from reproductive disorders that cause bleeding, such as endometriosis
- Easy bleeding or bruising
- Frequent or heavy nosebleeds
- Iron deficiency
Common bleeding disorders in women include
- Von Willebrand disease: This inherited bleeding disorder is caused by deficiencies or defects in parts of the blood that help clots to form. Von Willebrand disease is the most common bleeding disorder in women.
- Hemophilia and Hemophilia Carriers. This is a rare, inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly due to the deficiency of clotting protein 8 or 9 in the blood. Hemophilia is genetic and passed down on the X-chromosome. It was originally thought to only impact males; however, research shows that some women who carry the hemophilia gene (Hemophilia carriers) can have bleeding complications. Some carriers have low levels of clotting factors in their blood and are diagnosed as having hemophilia. It is most common for a woman diagnosed with hemophilia to have factor levels in the mild range.
- There are other types of bleeding disorders that can be diagnosed in girls and women, including platelet disorders and other clotting factor deficiencies.
Contact our bleeding disorders program
If you have questions about the women and bleeding disorders program or if you’d like to make an appointment, please call our clinic at Children’s Minnesota – Minneapolis at 612-813-5940. Or visit our bleeding disorders program page for more information.
If you are a health professional looking for a consultation or referral information, please call Children’s Minnesota Physician Access at 1-866-755-2121 (toll-free) and ask for the on-call hematologist.
