Bleeding disorders among young women: a population-based prevalence study

Bleeding problems are prevalent in the general population but may indicate a general bleeding disorder. Our aim was to describe the prevalence of perceived bleeding symptoms, including menorrhagia, in young healthy females.

By aid of school nurses we distributed a questionnaire to all girls (n =1,410) in the first grade of the upper secondary schools in the town of Malmö, Sweden. We received 1,019 (72%) responses. The questionnaire consisted of 17 main questions addressing general bleeding problems, menses and menstrual bleeding problems, family history, and other health related questions.

The mean age of the girls was 16.7 years. Eight girls had a previously diagnosed bleeding disorder and had a higher frequency of most bleeding symptoms. Seventy-three percent of girls experienced at least one bleeding symptom, 43% had more than one symptom, 23% were troubled by more than two symptoms, and 10% more than three symptoms. Thirty-seven percent experienced heavy menstruation and of these 22% had different drugs as treatment for menorrhagia. Thirty-eight percent had a family history of heavy menstruation and half of them suffered from heavy menstruation themselves.

Bleeding symptoms were relatively prevalent in this population and similar to other population-based studies.