March is here, and that means it’s time to come together for Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month! You can download and share the NBDF social media kit, graphics, and resources to raise awareness, share your story, and spread the word this month. Visit the NBDF website for all the ways to get involved. 

World Hemophilia Day is on April 17th, and this year’s theme from the World Federation of Hemophilia is "Access for All: Women and Girls Bleed Too." The WFH theme for the day highlights the importance of women and girls getting access to diagnosis, treatment, and care. Join us as we recognize how women, girls, and those who have or had the potential to menstruate in the bleeding disorders community remain underdiagnosed and underserved. Click the link to learn how you can be part of this movement and ensure everyone has access to the care they need. 

BDC 2023 is here! NHF’s Annual Bleeding Disorders Conference (BDC) celebrates 75 years of NHF this year, taking place from August 17th through 19th in National Harbor, Maryland. We’re back with another exciting lineup of educational sessions across the Consumer, Provider, and Chapter tracks. This year we’ve grouped sessions into themes, such as “Ages and Stages” and “Identity & Access” – so get ready for an even more tailored experience that will help you make the most of your BDC.

This year’s conference will feature three consumer sessions catered towards women, girls, and people with the potential to menstruate (WGPPM). Our session titled “Empowered to Explore: Confidently Navigating Women's Health Procedures” will delve into some of those routine women’s health check-ups that can often be daunting and confusing, especially for someone with a bleeding disorder. In this session, an OB/GYN will explain how to safely navigate a few of these common women’s health procedures and preventative health exams, so you can confidently book your next check-up.

Next up, in “Women with Bleeding Disorders: A Lifetime of Experiences,” you’ll hear from a panel of three women with ultra-rare bleeding disorders sharing their experiences at various ages and stages in their lives. The community of WGPPM with bleeding disorders consists of a wealth of diverse experiences, and no two stories look alike. This session is meant to highlight a few of those stories!

Lastly, the theme of “Your Health, Your Way: Personalizing Wellness for Women” is to encourage women, girls and people with the potential to menstruate to build a health and wellness system that suits their specific needs. Our speakers will discuss how to create a nutrition and fitness plan tailored to your own health goals, as well as the importance of exploring different health tools and period products to help find what works best for you. This session will leave you feeling empowered to develop a health and wellness routine centered around you – because wellness is not a one-size-fits-all!

Watch this video to hear from one of our BDC speakers, Gabi Flores, on what she’s most looking forward to at BDC this year.

I’m looking forward to seeing you all in National Harbor this year! Enjoy your BDC!