What is Hemophilia?

A uncommon hereditary condition called hemophilia impairs the blood’s capacity to clot correctly. Normally, blood clots to halt bleeding when an individual has an injury or cut. However, some clotting factors—proteins that aid in blood clotting—are absent from the blood of people who have hemophilia. Because of this, individuals who have hemophilia may bleed more readily after an accident and may also have spontaneous bleeding into their joints and muscles.

Hemophilia can take many different forms, depending on which clotting factor is lacking. Hemophilia A, a deficit in clotting factor VIII, and Hemophilia B, a lack in clotting factor IX, are the two most prevalent forms. Although female carriers of the gene can sometimes have hemophilia, the condition is usually hereditary, meaning it is handed down via families and primarily affects men.