what is hemophilia

Hemophilia is a rare, inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly. It is usually caused by a low level of clotting factor VIII (8) or factor IX (9), with the severity of the condition determined by the amount of the factor in the blood. This can lead to spontaneous bleeding as well as bleeding following injuries or surgery. Hemophilia is almost always a genetic disorder and is typically inherited from one or both parents. There are several types of hemophilia, with the most common being Hemophilia A (caused by a lack of factor VIII) and Hemophilia B (caused by a lack of factor IX). Treatment involves replacing the missing blood clotting factor, and in some cases, newer therapies that don't contain clotting factors are also being used