New Guidelines for Bleeding Disorders
June 3, 2009 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Women's Health
About 25% of women with heavy menstruation may have an undiagnosed bleeding disorder, says researchers from Duke University Medical Center.
An international expert consortium recently outlined the signs that may indicate the presence of a bleeding disorder in women:
• Heavy blood loss during menstruation
• Family history of bleeding disorder
• Notable bruising without injury
• Minor wound bleeding that lasts more than five minutes
• Prolonged or excessive bleeding following dental extraction
• Unexpected surgical bleeding
• Hemorrhaging that requires blood transfusion
• Postpartum hemorrhaging, especially if occurs more than 24 hours after delivery.
(The recommendations are published online and will appear in the July issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)
Women with blood clotting disorders often don’t receive a diagnosis for many years. Andra James, MD, a Duke obstetrician, says that in extreme cases bleeding disorders have led to women bleeding to death during childbirth, menstruation and surgical procedures.
If you suspect you have a bleeding disorder, see your doctor for laboratory tests and treatment. Researchers warn that a family history of heavy menstrual cycles could just mean that your relatives had an undiagnosed bleeding disorder. Read more about the bleeding disorders study at Duke.
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