Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

The need

Heavy menstrual bleeding affects approximately 30% of adolescent girls. In many cases it persists throughout their lives, leading to serious consequences for their health and quality of life, including anemia, chronic fatigue, and social challenges.

For a significant number of these cases – some 20% – the underlying cause is a congenital bleeding disorder. Most often that disorder is von Willebrand Disease. Heavy menstrual bleeding is often passed off as an unfortunate phenomenon within “normal” parameters.

Most girls and women suffering the condition do not seek or are not referred to a hematologist. The result is a significant underdiagnosis of a condition that could be readily diagnosed and effectively managed with appropriate care. The consequences may be severe, affecting health and social life and threatening long term sequelae.

of women are affected by heavy menstrual bleeding

30 - 50%

adolescents with severe HMB have an underlying bleeding disorder

1 %

may elapse before an inherited bleeding disorder is diagnosed

0 years

of women with inherited bleeding disorders experience HMB and iron deficiency

70 - 80%