As hematologists focused on women’s health, we’ve been seeing pregnant women who have iron deficiency, clotting, and low platelet counts. For many years, it has been assumed that anemia during pregnancy is “normal.” Recently, it has become clear that iron deficiency is the main problem, occurring in as many as 25% of all pregnancies. Children…
Many pregnant women develop low platelet counts during pregnancy. This is usually discovered by routine blood count testing at 26 weeks and during the third trimester. There are two main causes: gestational thrombocytopenia and ITP. Gestational thrombocytopenia, found during the final weeks of the pregnancy, results in low platelet counts in the 80-120 range (150…
As a hematologist, I specialize in weighing the risks against the benefits for taking estrogen-containing oral contraceptive medications. There is strong evidence that these medications are associated with clotting, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary emboli (PE), and stroke. For many years, the main risk assessment before starting to take estrogen-containing oral contraceptive medications included…
The most common nutrient deficiency is low iron. It is especially common among women because iron is lost by menstrual bleeding and pregnancies. As a result, women are expected to have a lower hemoglobin, on average, than men. It has been estimated that 25% of women aged 18-50 have low iron. This causes fatigue, impaired…
Iron deficiency occurs in 25% of all women who have menstrual periods. It affects the whole body, because all the muscles of the body require iron to use energy. There is no way to know that your iron is low without testing the iron level (ferritin), but most women do not have their iron tested….
When I started Heme On Call, the country’s first telemedicine-based hematology practice, I sought to reform the way expert hematology advice was provided: online, from the comfort and safety of your home. Since 2020 we have grown to 50 staff, and we have seen 7,000 patients. Over time, I have realized that the most important…
Many women have heavy menstrual bleeding and don’t realize it. You may think it’s normal to have a lot of bleeding the first few days of their period. If you are changing your pads frequently, missing work, or avoiding activities due to heavy bleeding, then it’s too heavy. Over time, you may become tired because…
Reflecting on why he became a hematologist, Dr. Steven Fein explains he “has always wanted to make an impact.” During his training at Johns Hopkins Medical School, Duke, and University of Miami, he sought to identify public health problems that needed to be solved. As a hospital-based hematologist at Baptist Hospital of Miami, he first…
Most people who have weight loss (bariatric) surgery develop iron deficiency after a few years. This occurs because iron absorption is decreased or absent after having the surgery. It affects the whole body, because all the muscles of the body require iron to use energy. The only way to know whether your iron is low…
The disorder known as DVT (deep venous thrombosis) means having a blood clot in one of your legs. This disorder occurs without warning, resulting in swelling or discomfort of the affected leg. In some cases, a recent leg injury or surgery can be blamed, but most cases are “unprovoked.” The problem with DVT is that…
