What problems might arise in the first trimester (the first 3 months of pregnancy)?
Women with Type 3 von Willebrand disease seem to have more frequent miscarriages (spontaneous abortions), especially during the first trimester. It may also be that these miscarriages, rather than being more frequent, are simply more noticeable because they are accompanied by heavier bleeding. The risk of miscarriage can be lowered with factor replacement therapy. However, this benefit must be weighed against the risk of being exposed to parvovirus through factor concentrates. Parvovirus can, in rare cases, cause miscarriage. (See below.) In addition, bleeding after a miscarriage may be severe for a woman with VWD.
