Blood Disorders
Why Focus on Blood Disorders in Women and Girls?
While blood disorders affect both men and women, there are serious added consequences for women and adolescent girls due to the gynecologic challenges encountered during the menstrual cycle and throughout the reproductive life stages such as, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause.
| Life stage | Unique Issues for Women and Girls with Blood Disorders |
|---|---|
| Adolescence |
Anticipation of menses If bleeding disorder, anticoagulation or thrombocytopenia> Risks and benefits of hormonal contraception |
| Pre-conception |
Genetic counseling for inherited bleeding disorders Risks to the mother of a pregnancy Risks to the unborn baby associated with pregnancy
|
| Pregnancy |
↓ risk of bleeding ↑ risk of thrombosis ↓ platelet count ↓ hemoglobin ↑ frequency of sickle cell crises Exacerbation of endothelial dysfunction with preeclampsia |
| Childbirth | Risks of regional anesthesia for women with bleeding disorders, thrombocytopenia or on anticoagulation |
| Postpartum |
Risks of delayed hemorrhage in women with bleeding disorders Risks of thrombosis |
| Perimenopause |
Management of bleeding due to fibroids, polyps and endometrial hyperplasia Risks and benefits of hormone replacement Prophylaxis for either bleeding or clotting around procedures |
Source: With permission from Dr. Andra James. Chart from PowerPoint slides, Introduction to FWGBD, May 2010.
The treatment and management of blood disorders present unique issues for women and girls. The delay in and/or failure to diagnose and treat blood disorders in women and girls are major public health problems. These result in significant morbidity, reduced quality of life, days lost from work and school, unnecessary invasive procedures and high health care costs.