Females and Bleeding Disorder Disparities

Women with bleeding disorders present with different symptomology than men. Women are born with more flexible ligaments and joints than men for the purpose of childbearing. That flexibility, in turn, leads to greater laxity in the joints which affects how women experience bleeding disorders. More than 90% of patients seeking treatment for temporomandibular dysfunction are women in their childbearing years.⁶⁰ There is an urgent need for good data on the prevalence of orofacial pain in women with bleeding disorders.

Another issue that affects women with bleeding disorders is iron deficiency due to the hemostatic challenge of menstruation. Iron deficiency presents even greater burdens for women, along with being associated with restless leg syndrome, migraines, fibromyalgia, pagophagia (ice chewing), fatigue, and chronic pain.⁶¹ Dental providers should have the ability to recognize early warning signs of iron deficiency, such as dental caries and periodontal disease in order to allow patients to receive necessary interventions before the longstanding effects of iron deficiency are manifested and to avoid severe complications.⁶²