I bleed a lot

Do you bleed too much?

Are you wondering why you have so many nosebleeds? Do your gums bleed after flossing or brushing your teeth? Do you often discover bruises on your body, and don’t remember where they may have come from? Have you recently experienced excessive bleeding after a minor accident or a visit to the dentist?

Most people bleed from time to time. The cause of the bleed will vary, but in most cases our bodies will stop the bleeding quickly through a process called blood clotting. However, some people bleed more often and for longer than others, and this kind of bleeding can often be treated or prevented. So, if you answer at least one of the questions above with “yes”, your bleeding may merit further investigation.

Causes of excessive or prolonged bleeding

There are many possible causes for excessive or prolonged bleeding. Identifying the cause of your bleeding symptoms is very important to determine the appropriate treatment. Bleeding may be caused by certain medicines, for example pain killers such as aspirin or blood thinners (anticoagulants). Some medical conditions, such as liver or kidney disease and cancer, can also cause bleeding.^1,2 There is also the possibility that your bleeding is due to a bleeding disorder. Bleeding disorders are rare diseases and can be hereditary or acquired. The most common hereditary bleeding disorder is von Willebrand disease (VWD). VWD is often undiagnosed. Without diagnosis and treatment, people with VWD are at risk of serious bleeding. People with VWD often have frequent nose and gum bleeds, bruise easily, and may experience excessive bleeding after tooth extractions, surgery or minor accidents. Among women with VWD, heavy menstrual bleeding is the most common symptom.³

You may not be the only one in your family with bleeding symptoms

If your siblings, parents, or other relatives also experience bleeding symptoms, you may think that these are normal. However, this is not always true. Your bleeding may be caused by a hereditary bleeding disorder, which often affects more than one family member. If your bleeding affects your daily life and well-being, we recommend that you discuss it with your doctor.

Find out if your bleeding is normal

Is my bleeding normal or not? Finding the answer to this question is not always straightforward. To make it easier to assess bleeding symptoms, researchers have developed bleeding tests.³ One of these tests is available on this website. If you feel uncertain about any bleeding symptom you have experienced, we strongly recommend that you take the bleeding test. This may be even more important if you are about to undergo surgery. The test only takes a few minutes to complete, and it will tell you if you should see a doctor because of your bleeding.