Diagnosis and Management of von Willebrand Disease and Other Bleeding Disorders in Women

Women who have bleeding disorders, such as von Willebrand disease (VWD), are at risk for excessive bleeding in association with menstruation and childbirth. The general incidence of VWD, an inherited disorder caused by deficiency or dysfunction of von Willebrand factor (VWF), is 1%; however, prevalence of VWD in women with heavy menstrual bleeding (also known as menorrhagia) is 11% to 16%. Bleeding severity varies, depending on whether VWD is type 1 (deficient VWF), type 2 (abnormal VWF), or type 3 (absent VWF). The association between prevalence of bleeding disorders and occurrence of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is less clear; in women with VWD, PPH often is delayed.

At an industry-sponsored meeting, international specialists in hematology,…