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Young Women with Bleeding Clinic

Why choose the Young Women with Bleeding Clinic?

The Young Women with Bleeding Clinic is a multidisciplinary clinic including the specialties of Hematology, Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, and Gynecology. Our clinic is designed to offer a collaborative approach to the diagnosis and management of heavy menstrual bleeding in young women. We have expertise in assessing, diagnosing, and managing the various etiologies for heavy, prolonged, or irregular menses.

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What type of patients may benefit?

Individuals with uncontrolled heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding and at least one of the following:

  • Need for evaluation of a bleeding or clotting disorder
  • Need for active management of iron deficiency anemia due to heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Known bleeding disorder such as von Willebrand disease (VWD), hemophilia, platelet dysfunction, or rare factor deficiency or abnormal bleeding symptoms

What should you expect?

  • The YWB team will obtain your prior medical notes, laboratory results and imaging reports (if applicable).
  • You should make a list of any specific questions or concerns you want to discuss during your visit.

You will meet in a virtual clinic visit with YWB team members all together (trainees may be present as well). They will gather additional information about what you have been experiencing. Collaboratively, they will discuss any additional diagnostic testing that may be needed as well as options for next steps in your period management.

  • Please complete any appointments for laboratory blood draws or imaging recommended by the YWB team.
  • Plan for follow-up with YWB providers either individually or again in the YWB clinic will be arranged as needed.

Important topics

  • Period (menstrual) management: Symptoms that suggest you may benefit from period management include heavy periods; prolonged (>7 day) periods; irregular periods; painful periods; inability to participate in your school, work, and activity obligations; and development of iron deficiency or anemia. There are many period management options, and together we can identify which option suits your needs best. These may include hormone-based period management pills (some also use these as birth control pills), tranexamic acid (TXA), Depo-Provera injections, intrauterine devices (IUD), and others.
  • Iron deficiency: Symptoms of iron deficiency can include fatigue, decreased concentration, and sleep interference. When iron deficiency is not treated, it progresses to cause anemia (decrease in red blood cells that are responsible for carrying oxygen and providing energy). If you need to take iron supplementation, remember:
    • Take iron as a single dose (or possibly less frequent)
    • A few ounces of a vitamin C (ascorbic acid) enriched beverage will boost iron absorption.
    • Avoid dairy.
    • Iron should be taken on an empty or relatively empty stomach.
    • Iron supplementation may cause constipation
  • Bleeding disorders: Individuals with bleeding disorders typically have abnormal bleeding symptoms in more than one location and may have a family history of abnormal bleeding symptoms or a known bleeding disorder such as such as von Willebrand Disease, hemophilia, platelet dysfunction, or rare factor deficiency or abnormal bleeding symptoms.