A Bleeding Disorder in Women
A bleeding disorder has a serious effect on women’s reproductive health. It may also affect the quality of life. A woman who is affected with this kind of disorder has high risk to anemia. The most common bleeding disorder in women is the Von Willebrand Disease (VWD). It occurs when the blood lacks the protein needed that helps clot.
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
It is important to know that they already have signs of bleeding issues. Also they should start asking their private doctors about their condition. The signs and symptoms are:
- Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding)
- VWD (von Willebrand disease)
- Heavy bleeding after a certain surgery
- Easy bruising
- Bleeding of gums
- Excessive bleeding following surgery
- Joints bleeding
- Unknown cause for nose bleeding
RISK FACTOR
Menorrhagia is one of the bleeding disorders for women. It’s a condition that can be cured. If a woman noticed that she has this kind of disorder she should know about her risk. The women’s life will be better if you know. Women with a bleeding disorder, the platelets don’t work the way they used to. Maybe they are short in supply. When the platelets don’t clot, large bleedings of blood may occur.
DIAGNOSIS
To asses you for Von Willebrand Disease, your doctor will ask you some questions. It is about your health condition history. It may also include about your experience of signs of this disease.
To know if you have this condition, your doctor will suggest you the following test:
Von Willebrand Disease antigen – It measures the particular protein in your blood. By doing this kind of test, also determines the von Willebrand factor.
Ristocetin cofactor activity – this test will measure how von Willebrand factor do in your clotting process.
Von Willebrand factor multimers – this test will evaluate the von Willebrand factor in your blood. It’s a protein multimer and how do its molecules break down.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
- Eat food is more on iron
- Do physical exam or a physical therapy
- Do a liver test
- Complete blood count
- Immune system check
- If needed do a factor level check
TREATMENT
However this disease has no cure, the treatments below can help stop bleeding:
Desmopressin – this medication includes injection (DDAVP) or Stimate (nasal spray). It controls bleeding by doing stimulation to your body. It is to release von Willebrand factor. It releases the lining stored in your blood vessels. DDAVP is effective to the people having 1 or 2 types of disease.
Contraceptives – for females/women, birth control can be useful. It is because of heavy blood bleeding during their menstrual periods.
Drugs applied to cuts – a tissue VHS (fibrin sealant) directly placed on curtail bleeding. These substances are applied using syringes.