Types of Bleeding Disorders

Yes, there are different types of bleeding disorders a person can have. The two most common types of bleeding disorders are:

• Hemophilia - while this well-known disease affects men and women, most people who have hemophilia are men. Even though most people think hemophiliacs bleed to death from cuts, they actually suffer problems with internal bleeding into the joints, muscles, and organs. Treatment involves replacing the missing clotting factor in a person's blood, done through intravenous (IV) treatment, where a small tube is inserted into a vein.

• von Willebrand Disease (VWD) - a lesser known bleeding disorder that affects both women and men, VWD is the most common bleeding disorder in women. This disease causes bleeding in the intestines, bleeding gums, and very heavy menstrual periods in women. Treatment involves the release of stored clotting factors in the blood, or in severe cases replacing the clotting factor through IV treatment or with a nasal spray. When a person with VWD has a dental procedure or dental surgery, they need to take medication beforehand to reduce bleeding. Over the past 20 years, researchers have made great progress in diagnosing and treating VWD.