Have you heard about a medical condition in which a person’s wounds bleed more easily than usual, or in other words, the blood doesn’t clot easily? This disease or blood disorder (coagulopathy) is medically known as the Von Willebrand Disease. Von Willebrand Disease is found in equal numbers among men and women. In fact, it is found in 1% of the entire population of the US.
However, the case of women is different when it comes to bleeding. According to a survey conducted by the British Journal of General Practice related to how women go through heavy menstrual bleeding. It shows around 27-36% of women surveyed experience heavy bleeding (menorrhagia).
Do you or someone you know experience heavy or prolonged periods but are unsure why? Well, abnormal uterine bleeding occurs for many reasons, and one of them can be Von Willebrand Disease (VWD). Let’s tell you what this disease is about!
The Von Willebrand Disease
Our blood contains certain types of proteins, such as the Von Willebrand Factor (VWF). This protein plays a major role in the clotting of blood. When a person has low numbers of VWFs or the present VWFs are not functioning the way they should be functioning, the person is said to have Vile Willebrand Disease. This is an inherited bleeding disorder that disrupts your blood’s natural clotting ability.
You might be wondering that in elementary school, we learned that platelets come together to stop the blood from flowing. However, the VWF functions as a glue to stick the platelets together for clotting. This disease can affect anyone regardless of gender, but it is prominent in women because of the hormonal fluctuations and its impact on the menstrual cycles.
Is VWD More Common in Women?
As we said, it is not common in either of the genders. Its occurrences are based on inherent blood disorders. VWD holds the unfortunate distinction of being the most common inherited bleeding disorder, affecting an estimated 0.6-1.3% of the population. In women, this disease can be more symptomatic as it influences hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone.
These hormones fluctuate throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle, impacting fertility and blood clotting. During menstruation, the lining of the uterus sheds, and the body naturally initiates clotting to control bleeding. However, in women with VWD, hormonal fluctuations can further impair the already compromised function of the Von Willebrand factor. This can lead to heavier and more prolonged menstrual periods, causing significant discomfort and impacting daily life.
How VWD Manifests in Women?
For many women with VWD, periods can be a nightmare, as the most noticeable symptom is often linked to their menstrual cycle. As a matter of fact, Menorrhagia is a prominent indicator of VWD. This can manifest as needing to change pads or tampons more frequently than usual (every hour or less) or experiencing periods that last longer than seven days.
Besides menstruation, women with this condition also face other VWD symptoms. For example, they will have prolonged Postpartum bleeding or bleeding from injuries or minor procedures. In fact, even the slightest bumps or scrapes can result in bruises because the weak clotting mechanism makes the blood seep under the skin more readily.
Diagnosing Von Willebrand Disease
If someone has VWD or seems to have the above-mentioned symptoms they must go for a proper medical checkup for early diagnosis. The early diagnosis of VWD will help the patient to manage the symptoms appropriately and improve their quality of life.
The first thing you must do is consult a doctor as they can perform a comprehensive evaluation to check if your abnormal bleeding is due to VWD or not.
Since this is an inherent disease, the doctor will ask about your medical history and family history of bleeding disorders. Then, the doctor will conduct a few blood tests like the VWF activity test, collagen binding assay, Ristocetin cofactor activity (RCoF), etc.
The VWF activity test measures the quantity of von Willebrand factor present in your blood. The Collagen binding assay assesses how well VWF interacts with collagen, a protein found in connective tissues, which is important for clot formation. Lastly, the RCoF examines how effectively Von Willebrand Factor helps platelets clump together in response to a medication called ristocetin.
Conclusion
VWD is a challenging disease with serious symptoms, but you should remember that it is possible to manage these symptoms. Being a woman with VWD, you can lead an active and fulfilling life. You just have to go through proper diagnosis and treatment.
Be proactive about your health! If you experience any of the above mentioned symptoms like abnormal bleeding, heavy menstrual periods, or prolonged bleeding after injuries, head to the respective doctor immediately and get the necessary treatment. In the end, prevention is better than cure!