Von Willebrand Disease (VWD)
Von Willebrand disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder, caused by a clotting protein called von Willebrand factor that is missing or works poorly. In girls and women it often shows up first as very heavy periods. Its short form is VWD.
Heavy bleeding from the very first period is the signal. A teenager who soaks through protection every hour deserves a workup for a bleeding disorder. So does one who has needed iron for a low blood count. A 2006 report from pediatric and gynecology committees proposed reading the cycle as an added vital sign.1 A bleeding pattern on a chart carries information.
Suppressive medications can hide heavy bleeding without naming its cause. Finding a bleeding disorder changes care for life, including surgery and childbirth.
Cited in this entry
- American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Adolescence, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Adolescent Health Care, Diaz A, Laufer MR, Breech LL. Menstruation in girls and adolescents: using the menstrual cycle as a vital sign. Pediatrics. 2006. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17079600/
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult an RRM clinician or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.
