What is the disease where you can't stop bleeding? Understanding Hemophilia and Other Bleeding Disorders

October 1, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while relatively rare, hemophilia is a well-known bleeding disorder where blood does not clot properly, making it one potential answer to the question: What is the disease where you can't stop bleeding?. However, it is just one of several conditions that can disrupt the body's natural clotting process, leading to excessive and prolonged bleeding.

Quick Summary

This article explores bleeding disorders like hemophilia and von Willebrand disease, explaining how deficiencies in clotting factors lead to prolonged and sometimes spontaneous bleeding. It covers symptoms, causes (inherited or acquired), diagnosis, and the available treatments that help individuals manage these conditions effectively.

Key Points

Bleeding Disorders Cause Uncontrolled Bleeding: Conditions like hemophilia and von Willebrand disease disrupt the body’s ability to form blood clots, leading to prolonged bleeding.
Hemophilia is a Genetic Factor Deficiency: The most widely known bleeding disorder, hemophilia, is an inherited condition caused by low levels of specific clotting factors, primarily affecting males.
Von Willebrand Disease is the Most Common Bleeding Disorder: Caused by a deficiency or defect in von Willebrand factor, this condition is more common than hemophilia and affects both males and females.
Symptoms Can Range from Mild to Severe: Signs of a bleeding disorder include easy bruising, heavy menstrual bleeding, frequent nosebleeds, and bleeding into joints or muscles.
Diagnosis Involves Specialized Blood Tests: A proper diagnosis requires a review of family history, a physical exam, and specific blood tests like clotting factor assays and PTT tests.
Effective Treatments Are Available: Though there is no cure for most types, treatments like factor replacement therapy and medications like DDAVP can effectively manage bleeding episodes and prevent complications.

What is a bleeding disorder?

A bleeding disorder is a group of conditions that occur when the blood cannot clot properly, resulting in prolonged or excessive bleeding. The body's ability to stop bleeding is a complex process involving a series of proteins called clotting factors and small blood cells known as platelets. Normally, when a blood vessel is injured, platelets form a plug at the site of the wound, and clotting factors work together to create a stronger fibrin clot that stops the bleeding. In individuals with a bleeding disorder, a deficiency or malfunction in these clotting factors or platelets disrupts this process, causing bleeding to last much longer than it should. While the most recognized name is hemophilia, it is not the only cause of unstoppable bleeding. Many bleeding disorders are genetic and inherited, while others can be acquired later in life due to underlying medical conditions or medications.

Hemophilia: The most known answer

Hemophilia is a rare, inherited bleeding disorder primarily affecting males, though females can be carriers or, in rare cases, also have the condition. It is caused by a gene mutation on the X chromosome that results in low levels of specific clotting factors. The severity of hemophilia depends on the amount of functioning clotting factor present in the blood.

There are two main types of hemophilia:

Hemophilia A (Classic Hemophilia): The most common type, caused by a deficiency in clotting factor VIII (8).
Hemophilia B (Christmas Disease): The second most common type, resulting from a deficiency in clotting factor IX (9).

Symptoms vary based on severity but can include:

Large, unexplained bruises (hematomas).
Bleeding into joints and muscles, causing pain, swelling, and tightness.
Prolonged bleeding after injury, surgery, or dental work.
Frequent and hard-to-stop nosebleeds.
Blood in the urine or stool.

Von Willebrand disease: The most common bleeding disorder

While hemophilia is more widely known, von Willebrand disease (VWD) is actually the most common inherited bleeding disorder, affecting up to 1% of the U.S. population. VWD is caused by a deficiency or defect in von Willebrand factor (VWF), a protein that helps platelets stick together to form a clot and also carries clotting factor VIII. VWD affects both males and females equally, but women are more likely to notice symptoms due to heavy menstrual bleeding.

There are three main types of VWD:

Type 1: The most common and mildest form, characterized by low levels of VWF.
Type 2: VWF is present in normal or low amounts but does not work correctly. There are four subtypes based on the specific malfunction.
Type 3: The rarest and most severe form, with very little or no VWF.

Causes of bleeding disorders: Inherited vs. acquired

Bleeding disorders can arise from inherited genetic mutations or can be acquired later in life. Most cases of hemophilia and VWD are inherited and present from birth, though symptoms may not become apparent until later. A person's sex chromosomes often determine inheritance patterns. For example, hemophilia A and B are X-linked, explaining their higher prevalence in males.

In rare cases, a person can develop an acquired bleeding disorder. This can happen when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the body's own clotting factors. Acquired bleeding disorders can be associated with:

Pregnancy
Autoimmune conditions
Certain cancers
Use of particular medications

Diagnosis and treatment options

Diagnosis of a bleeding disorder involves a review of personal and family medical history, a physical exam, and specialized blood tests. Common diagnostic tests include:

Complete Blood Count (CBC): Measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) and Prothrombin Time (PT): Measures how long it takes for blood to clot.
Clotting Factor Assays: Measures the level and activity of specific clotting factors, such as factor VIII and IX.

While there is currently no cure for most bleeding disorders, effective treatments are available to manage symptoms and prevent complications. The type of treatment depends on the specific disorder and its severity.

Replacement Therapy: For hemophilia, clotting factor concentrates are infused intravenously to replace the missing factor.
Desmopressin (DDAVP): A hormone that can stimulate the release of VWF and factor VIII for individuals with mild VWD or hemophilia A.
Antifibrinolytic Agents: Medications that prevent blood clots from breaking down, often used before dental work or surgery.
Gene Therapy: This is a promising area of research aimed at providing a long-term solution for certain bleeding disorders.

Living with a bleeding disorder

With proper medical care and management, individuals with bleeding disorders can lead full and active lives. Management includes adhering to a treatment plan, avoiding certain medications like aspirin and ibuprofen, and taking precautions during physical activities. Working closely with a specialized Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) is crucial for comprehensive care.

Hemophilia vs. Von Willebrand disease


Feature	Hemophilia	Von Willebrand Disease (VWD)
Cause	Deficiency in specific clotting factors (Factor VIII or IX) due to an X-linked genetic mutation.	Deficiency or defect in von Willebrand factor (VWF).
Prevalence	Less common; affects approximately 1 in 5,000 males for Hemophilia A.	Most common inherited bleeding disorder, affecting up to 1% of the population.
Inheritance	Typically X-linked recessive, primarily affecting males.	Can be autosomal dominant or recessive, affecting both males and females.
Symptoms	Often more severe, including spontaneous bleeding into joints and muscles.	Symptoms generally milder, including easy bruising, nosebleeds, and heavy menstrual bleeding in women.
Treatment	Primarily involves intravenous factor replacement therapy.	Treatment varies but may include DDAVP, antifibrinolytics, or replacement therapy.

Conclusion

The most prominent answers to what is the disease where you can't stop bleeding? are hemophilia and von Willebrand disease, but the underlying cause is a malfunction of the body's clotting system. These conditions, whether inherited or acquired, disrupt the crucial process that stops bleeding after an injury. While these disorders can range in severity, advances in treatment, including factor replacement and other medications, allow people to live active lives with proper management. Awareness of symptoms, appropriate diagnosis, and specialized medical care are essential for managing these lifelong conditions effectively. For more information, the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation offers valuable resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main reason a person can't stop bleeding is a deficiency or defect in the blood's clotting system. This can be due to a lack of specific clotting factors, as seen in hemophilia, or a problem with von Willebrand factor, which affects platelet function.

No, while hemophilia is the most well-known, it is not the only disease causing uncontrollable bleeding. Von Willebrand disease is the most common, and other rare factor deficiencies and acquired bleeding disorders also exist.

Most inherited bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia and von Willebrand disease, are not curable but are highly treatable. Effective treatments allow individuals to manage their condition and lead full, active lives.

Yes, females can have bleeding disorders. While hemophilia A and B are X-linked and primarily affect males, females can be carriers and experience mild symptoms. Von Willebrand disease, the most common type, affects males and females equally.

Common signs of a bleeding disorder include easy bruising, frequent or prolonged nosebleeds, heavy menstrual bleeding, blood in urine or stool, and excessive bleeding after an injury, surgery, or dental work.

Bleeding disorders are diagnosed based on a physical exam, personal and family medical history, and specific blood tests. These tests measure clotting time and the levels of various clotting factors.

An inherited bleeding disorder is caused by a genetic mutation passed down from parents and is present from birth. An acquired bleeding disorder develops later in life due to underlying conditions, such as autoimmune diseases or certain medications.