A bleeding disorder is a condition which affects the way your blood normally clots. The clotting process, also known as coagulation, changes blood from a liquid to a solid. This disorder can cause abnormal bleeding inside and outside your body.

The bleeding disorder occurs when your body cannot clot properly. When clotting does not occur, excessive or prolonged bleeding can take place in the body. It leads to sudden bleeding in joints, muscles, or other parts of the body. The majority of these disorders are inherited, which means they are passed from parents to the children. Bleeding disorders can be caused by:

• Low count of red blood cells
• Vitamin K deficiency
• Side effects from certain medications

Some common bleeding disorders are:

von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD):

It is named after Erik Adolf von Willebrand, a Finnish scientist who discovered this disease. It is a commonly inherited bleeding disorder. It develops when the blood cells lack von Willebrand factor, which helps the blood to clot. The platelets in the blood vessels create walls which help during the clotting process.

• Symptoms of vWD: There are various types of vWD present with varying degrees of bleeding tendency. It is commonly in the form of easy bruising, nose bleeds and bleeding gums. Women may experience heavy menstrual periods and blood loss during childbirth.
• Treatment: Aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid are antifibrinolytics agents which prevent the breakdown of blood clots.

Menorrhagia:

Although a heavy menstrual flow is common among pre-menopausal women, most women do not experience blood loss severe enough to be suffering from menorrhagia. With menorrhagia, every period causes enough blood loss and cramping to disturb usual activities.

• Symptoms of Menorrhagia:
  There are several symptoms of Menorrhagia:

• Night time bleeding that requires frequent changing of pads or tampons.
• Passing large blood clots during menstruation.
• Periods lasts longer than seven days.
• Soaking through one or more pads every hour.
• Restricting daily activities due to heavy flow.
• Heavy flow can lead to anaemia causing symptoms of fatigue and shortness of breath.
• Treatment: Ibuprofen and naproxen reduce the amount of blood loss and help with pain during menorrhagia. Hormone therapies are conducted to stabilize the endometrium (lining of the uterus), that regulates menstrual cycles or correct hormonal imbalances.