Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a common gynecological complaint among young women with up to 40% having experienced HMB. Bleeding disorders are increasingly being recognized in adolescents and young adults with HMB. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of bleeding disorders in adolescents with HMB, among patients who presented to the Queensland Statewide Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology Service between July 2007 and July 2017.

The study was a retrospective review of 124 female adolescents aged 8 to 18 years with HMB who presented to the Queensland Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology Service, Brisbane, Australia. The primary outcome measure was diagnosis of a bleeding disorder, with secondary outcomes including iron deficiency and/or anemia and treatment modalities.

Screening for bleeding disorders was performed in 77/124 (62.1%) of patients with HMB. Twenty-seven adolescents were diagnosed with a bleeding disorder, giving a prevalence of 27/124 (21.7%) in those with HMB, and 27/77 (35%) with HMB who were screened. Of these 35%, von Willebrand disease was the most common bleeding disorder, found in 14/27 (51.6%), followed by inherited platelet function disorders diagnosed in 9/27 (33.3%), thrombocytopenia (inherited or acquired) in 3/27 (11.1%), and Factor IX deficiency in 1/27 (3.7%). Iron deficiency and/or anemia was diagnosed in 53/107 (49.5%) of patients with HMB who were screened for this, and 19/27 (70.3%) of those diagnosed with a bleeding disorder.

Adolescents with HMB who present to a tertiary pediatric and adolescent gynecology service should be screened for bleeding disorders, because of the considerably high prevalence in this at-risk population.