Improving the lives and long-term outcomes of people affected by bleeding disorders since 1958

Read More

Promoting excellence in haemophilia 
care, education, advocacy and support.

Read More

About bleeding disorders

A bleeding disorder is a health problem that makes it hard for a person to stop bleeding. There are many different kinds of bleeding disorders. The two most common are haemophilia and von Willebrands Disease (vWD). There are also a number of rare bleeding disorders and platelet deficiencies.

Normally when a person is hurt, the body forms a blood clot to stop the bleeding quickly. For blood to clot, the body needs a type of blood cell called platelets, and blood proteins called clotting factors. People with bleeding disorders either have very low levels of platelets or clotting factors or they do not work correctly. Because of this, they bleed longer than normal.

There are 13 main clotting factors (identified by roman numerals) that work together to produce a clot. If one factor is missing the chain reaction is broken; clots will not form properly, and bleeding will continue.

With medicine to replace the missing clotting factors, people with bleeding disorders can lead full and active lives.


Haemophilia

Haemophilia is a bleeding disorder. The blood of a person with haemophilia does not clot normally because they lack one or more of the plasma proteins needed to form a clot, and stop the bleeding.

Read More


von Willebrands Disorder

Von Willebrands Disorder is a blood clotting condition, which is usually inherited. It is sometimes known as von Willebrands disease or just vWD. Research has shown that as many as 9 out of 10 people with vWD have not been diagnosed.

Read More


Rare bleeding disorders

There are a number of bleeding disorders where there are other factor deficiencies that are much more rare than haemophilia. The effects will depend, like haemophilia, on the degree of the missing factor. Without treatment, prolonged bleeding may follow surgery, childbirth, or major injury.

Read More


FAQs

Have a question about haemophilia or another bleeding disorder? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions below or use the form to Contact Us

Read More