The Forgotten Factor - a Column by G Shellye Horowitz

We grow up hearing our mentors — women we respect and love — regularly complain about menses. Periods seem to be a fairly universal inconvenience and bother. However, I believe there is a fine line between inconvenience and suffering. Your period should not make you miserable. Movements to…

Recently, I was browsing the website of the National Hemophilia Foundation and came across a series of videos encouraging people with hemophilia to have regular testing for inhibitors. As I watched the videos, it occurred to me that women with hemophilia don’t talk much about inhibitors.

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Carol Kasper, a highly regarded hematologist who has dedicated her life’s work — over 40 years of research and patient care — to individuals with hemophilia. Although Kasper retired three years ago, she continues to…

I love the holidays — candlelight, decorations, the smell of baking, and time with family. I look forward to the holidays every year, but I am also keenly aware that holidays can be more stressful with the realities of managing hemophilia. Here are some tips for…

The World Federation of Hemophilia states that any person, male or female, with factor levels below 40 percent has hemophilia. However, conventional medical wisdom has not caught up. Women who have abnormal bleeding should be assessed for hemophilia, particularly when they have a family history. Yet too…

Since hemophilia was discovered, it has been accepted as a male disease. No one questions that a man is struggling with hemophilia. A man with a bleeding disorder living in a developed country is rarely denied access to healthcare. When he receives a diagnosis, he is told that…

Living with hemophilia is challenging for anyone. It can be even more difficult for women who struggle to obtain a diagnosis and treatment. Despite the struggles, I am thankful for many things. A missed diagnosis I am thankful that the hospital lab made an…

I am a woman with mild hemophilia. I was angry when I realized that I had gone years without proper diagnosis and treatment. Over the years, I have had multiple bleeds that would have healed more effectively with access to factor replacement products. Many people mourn…

I recently attended a national conference for women with hemophilia. Common themes emerged as I listened to women’s stories of life with bleeding disorders. The number of women dismissed by top medical professionals working for hemophilia treatment centers (HTCs) was alarming. I wondered why this is happening. Dominant…

You’ve been talking to prospective Mr. Wonderful for a few weeks now. You have a lot in common, and if he looks anything like his profile picture, you know he’s going to be some significant eye candy. You have started to flirt through email. You might even be…