On International Women’s Day, the EHC reaffirms its commitment to advancing equitable recognition, diagnosis, and care for women and girls living with bleeding disorders across Europe.

Bleeding disorders such as haemophilia and von Willebrand Disease (VWD) are still widely perceived as conditions that primarily affect men. This outdated perception has led to the persistent under-recognition, underdiagnosis, and undertreatment of women and girls with inherited bleeding disorders. Across Europe, many women experience years of unexplained symptoms before receiving a diagnosis. Heavy menstrual bleeding, postpartum haemorrhage, and other gynaecological complications are often normalised or dismissed, delaying access to appropriate care and specialist support.

Achieving equity in recognition and treatment is not only a matter of gender equality—it is essential for building inclusive, resilient, and evidence-based healthcare systems across the European Union.

Addressing the gaps

To improve the situation for women and girls with bleeding disorders, the EHC calls for coordinated action at both European and national levels.

Strengthening the inclusion of women in EU-funded research

Women and girls must be systematically included in EU-funded research programmes, including clinical trials, observational studies, and real-world evidence initiatives.

The routine collection and reporting of sex-disaggregated data should be consistently required. Without robust data reflecting women’s experiences—including menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause—clinical knowledge remains incomplete, and health inequalities persist.

Integrating women into European registries and clinical guidelines

European registries and health data infrastructures must comprehensively capture information on women and girls with bleeding disorders.

Strengthened coordination through European Reference Networks and cross-border collaboration offers an opportunity to harmonise diagnostic pathways and improve data collection across Member States.

Clinical guidelines developed or endorsed at the European level should explicitly address the diagnosis and management of bleeding disorders in women. Symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding or postpartum haemorrhage should be recognised as potential indicators of an underlying bleeding disorder rather than being overlooked.

Improving training for healthcare professionals

Education and training are essential to ensure earlier recognition and diagnosis.

Greater awareness among general practitioners, gynaecologists, obstetricians, emergency physicians, and haematologists can significantly improve outcomes for women and girls. Earlier diagnosis leads to better maternal health outcomes, improved quality of life, and more sustainable healthcare systems.

Medical education and professional training programmes must reflect the reality that bleeding disorders affect women as well as men.

A call for gender-responsive healthcare

The EHC stands ready to work with the European Commission, the European Parliament, Member States, clinicians, and patient organisations to ensure that women and girls with bleeding disorders are fully reflected in EU health, research, and gender equality policies.

On this International Women’s Day, the EHC reiterates that equitable recognition and care for women and girls with bleeding disorders is essential to delivering on Europe’s commitment to inclusive and gender-responsive healthcare systems.