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Women with bleeding disorders

Vanessa R Byams1

  • 1Division of Hereditary Blood Disorders, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. vbyams@cdc.gov

Journal of Women'S Health (2002)
|November 16, 2007
PubMed

Menorrhagia, or excessive menstrual bleeding, is a common clinical problem affecting reproductive-age women; however, the cause is undetermined in 50% of cases. Von Willebrand disease (VWD) or other bleeding disorders may be the underlying source of heavy bleeding. Women with menorrhagia and/or VWD are at increased risk for several conditions including anemia, bleeding during pregnancy, post-partum hemorrhage, and reduced quality of life (OOL). Proper diagnosis and management can decrease complications and unnecessary surgical interventions. The Division of Blood Disorders (DBD) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has implemented studies to ascertain physician awareness of bleeding disorders, establish prevalence in the U.S., and determine the best treatment options.

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