Hemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder. For many years, people believed that only men and boys (or males) could have symptoms of hemophilia, such as bleeding in general and bleeding into joints, and that women who “carry” the hemophilia gene do not experience bleeding symptoms themselves. We now know that many women and girls do experience symptoms of hemophilia. As our knowledge about the disorder has increased, so has our understanding of why and how women can be affected. Some women live with their symptoms for years without being diagnosed or even suspecting they have a bleeding disorder. What is hemophilia? Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder. People with hemophilia bleed for longer than normal because their blood does not contain enough clotting factor, or the clotting factor doesn’t work properly. Clotting factors are proteins in the blood that help control bleeding. There are two types of hemophilia: hemophilia A and hemophilia B. Hemophilia A is more common; people with hemophilia A do not have enough clotting factor VIII (factor 8). People with hemophilia B do not have enough clotting factor IX (factor 9). Hemophilia is usually inherited, meaning that it is passed from parent to child through the parent’s genes. Genes carry messages about the way the body’s cells will develop. They determine a person’s hair and eye colour, for example. In people with hemophilia, the genes responsible for the production of clotting factors are altered or changed. As a result, their body will either not produce sufficient or any clotting factor, or the clotting factor it produces does not work properly. Occurence in woman and girls Approximately one third of women and girls with the affected hemophilia gene have clotting factor levels below 40% of normal, which may lead to abnormal bleeding. Women with levels over 40% of normal may also have bleeding symptoms. In most cases, these women experience symptoms similar to those seen in men with mild hemophilia, as well as some that are specific to women, such as prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding. Symptomatic hemophilia carriers and women and girls with hemophilia: may bruise more easily and experience frequent nose bleeds and mouth bleeds; may experience prolonged bleeding after surgery; may experience serious bleeding after trauma; often have heavier and more prolonged bleeding during their periods (heavy menstrual bleeding) and are more likely to require an iron supplement or to undergo hysterectomy; are more likely to have postpartum bleeding following childbirth; may experience bleeding in joints and muscles; may have poor bone health and experience osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and fractures. Symptoms of bleeding disorders in women You are likely to have a bleeding disorder if you have one or more of the following symptoms: Heavy menstrual periods - Bleeding for more than 7 days, from the time it began until it stopped Passing blood clots that are larger The need to change sanitary pads every 2 hours or less on heaviest day A member in the family has a bleeding disorder Heavy bleeding from dental surgery, other surgery, or childbirth. Frequent nose bleeds that last longer than 10 minutes Bleeding from cuts lasting longer than 5 minutes Please visit a health facility to know more. Source : World Federation of Hemophilia