Women’s Health with Marla Ahlgrimm: Bleeding Disorders

Retired pharmacist, women’s health expert, and entrepreneur Marla Ahlgrimm explains bleeding disorders, which affect up to 10% of women.

Q: What is a bleeding disorder?

Marla Ahlgrimm: A bleeding disorder is a health condition that affects the body’s ability to properly clot blood. People with bleeding disorders tend to bleed for extended periods and bleed out more so than those with normal clotting abilities.

Q: Are bleeding disorders unique to women?

Marla Ahlgrimm: No, anyone can be affected with bleeding disorder. However, reproductive-age women are at a greater risk of complications due to menstrual periods and childbirth.

Q: Are heavy periods an indication of a bleeding disorder?

Marla Ahlgrimm: While a heavy menstrual period is not always a sign of a bleeding disorder, it can be. A woman with a bleeding disorder may experience bleeding for seven or more continuous days and may need to change their pad or tampon every 60 to 120 minutes. While clotting is normal with menstrual blood, clots larger than a bottlecap may indicate abnormalities. A woman with a bleeding disorder may experience a significant disruption in her day-to-day life while on her period.

Q&A with Marla Ahlgrimm: HPV

HPV, or human papilloma virus, is, according to Marla Ahlgrimm, the most widespread form of sexually transmitted disease in the US. Approximately eight out of 10 women will contract at least one form of HPV throughout their lifetime.

Q: What is HPV?

Marla Ahlgrimm: The human papilloma virus is a blanket name for more than 100 different types of viruses, 40 of which are passed via sexual contact. It is estimated that approximately 79 million people – including 80 percent -- of all women currently have or will have an HPV incident.

Marla Ahlgrimm: Anxiety

Contrary to popular belief, it is perfectly normal to feel anxious from time to time. But according to Marla Ahlgrimm, when anxiety becomes difficult to control, it can become a problem. Approximately 20 percent of the adult population suffers with anxiety and women are more than twice as likely to experience this potentially debilitating condition as men.

Q: What is anxiety?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Anxiety is simply a sense of fear, nervousness, or concern regarding a specific situation or event. It is a normal reaction to things such as an exam, upcoming childbirth, or job change. At its most extreme, anxiety may result in an inability to complete day-to-day tasks.

Q: What are the different types of anxiety disorder?

Marla Ahlgrimm: The vast majority of anxiety disorders fall in the category of generalized anxiety (GAD). This results in constant worry about things others perceive as normal. For instance, a person with GAD may experience a virtual inability to cope with minor issues, such as a higher-than-expected water bill. Panic disorders are another common type of anxiety disorder and is typified by sudden sense of doom and panic in situations with no danger.