What to Expect

When people visit our clinic for the first time, we start with a joint evaluation by a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist and a pediatric hematologist. Our gynecology and hematology teams work together to look for underlying causes and individualized treatments for abnormal bleeding. Patients will also meet with our program’s social worker to talk about coping methods, communicating their needs, or other concerns.

Then, the patient and care team will all meet together to review the patient’s medical history and discuss treatment options. Our goal is to get to know every patient together as a team so we can provide the most comprehensive, coordinated care. The care team and patient all work together to decide which treatment is the best fit from a range of individualized options. 

For preteen and teen patients, part of the visit can be without their parent or guardian, an important step in their journey of learning how to manage their own care as they get older. The visits are confidential, and we provide a safe space to discuss sometimes difficult topics.

Depending on each patient’s unique needs, they may return to the Hematology-Gynecology Program clinic every few months to one year, or they may be seen only by our pediatric and adolescent gynecology team or by our hematology team.

Treatment options

Depending on each person’s unique needs, we will discuss a variety of treatment options:

• Hormonal medications. Oral contraceptive pills, IUDs, and other hormonal treatments can help reduce bleeding intensity and make periods more regular. 
• Factor and non-factor medications. For patients with bleeding disorders, factor and non-factor medications can help reduce heavy menstrual bleeding by helping blood to clot.
• Other non-hormonal medications. There are other medications that can help reduce heavy bleeding, such as tranexamic acid and aminocaproic acid.
• Iron supplementation to reduce anemia. Patients experiencing heavy periods may also have low iron, which can lead to anemia and fatigue. Supplementing with iron can boost energy.

Because our program includes experts in pediatric and adolescent gynecology and hematology working together, we can balance the health needs of our patients. For example, if a patient has concerns about heavy menstrual bleeding, we can safely prioritize how to reduce monthly bleeding without compromising any other aspects of the patient’s health.