Women with bleeding disorders are underrecognized and underdiagnosed. Their symptoms are frequently dismissed or minimized, and it takes an average of 16 years for them to be diagnosed. Several factors contribute to this sexism. Historically, the clinical and research focus within the bleeding disorder community has been on men and hemophilia. Von Willebrand disease, a disease that has long been recognized as affecting women, is much more common than hemophilia, yet has significantly fewer
resources devoted to it. The lack of knowledge and comfort that patients and health care providers have regarding menstruation compounds the issue, as heavy menstrual bleeding is one of the most common
symptoms seen in women with bleeding disorders. Stemming from the universal stigmatization of periods, this lack of comfort and knowledge results in fewer women seeking care, fewer health care providers addressing the issue, and fewer women getting the care and treatment they deserve. As more and more women are being identified with mild hemophilia A, our understanding of their needs has increased. Yet despite the progress that has been made, the road remains long, and much more work is
needed to ensure that women with bleeding disorders receive the care they deserve, before even more women's chronic health is put at risk.