title: Heavy menstrual bleeding and health-associated quality of life in women with von Willebrand's disease.
abstract: Women with the inherited bleeding disorder von Willebrand's disease (VWD) face gender-specific hemostatic challenges during menstruation. Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) can negatively affect their overall life activities and the health-associated quality of life. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether women with VWD experienced HMB and an impaired health-associated quality of life. The study subjects were recruited from the Coagulation Unit of Karolinska University Hospital. Information was retrieved from various self-administered forms and medical records. Of the 30 women (18-52 years) that were included in the present study, 50% suffered from HMB, although the majority received treatment for HMB. In addition, almost all the included women perceived limitations in the overall life activities due to menstruation. The health-associated quality of life for women with HMB was significantly lower (P<0.10) with regards to 'bodily pain' compared with Swedish women of the general population. In conclusion, women with VWD experienced reduced health-associated quality of life as a result of HMB. Therefore, preventing limitations in overall life activities and improving their health-associated quality of life thorough counseling on menstrual bleeding is important for women with VWD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm 171 76, Sweden.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Govorov
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm 171 76, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ekelund
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm 171 76, Sweden.
authors.forename: Roza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaireti
authors.affiliation: Coagulation Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm 171 76, Sweden.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elfvinge
authors.affiliation: Coagulation Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm 171 76, Sweden.
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holmström
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm 171 76, Sweden.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bremme
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm 171 76, Sweden.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mints
keywords: bleeding disorders; gynecology; heavy menstrual bleeding; hematology; quality of life; von Willebrand's disease