EAGER Clinic

The Empowering Adolescents with Gynecology and Hematology Resources and Care (EAGER) Clinic helps patients up to age 18 who have severe iron-deficiency anemia related to heavy menstrual bleeding.

Experts in this clinic will work with you and your family to:

• Get an accurate diagnosis
• Develop effective treatment
• Help you manage your condition

Heavy menstrual bleeding

One in every 3 women has heavy menstrual bleeding. Only 1 out of 3 of those seek care for the condition.

Between 5–24% (5 out of 100 to 24 out of 100) of women with heavy menstrual bleeding have a bleeding disorder. The most common is von Willebrand disease (VWD).

Learn about von Willebrand disease treatment at St. Jude.

Signs and symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding include:

• Menstrual bleeding that lasts more than 7 days
• Having to change a pad or tampon every 2 hour or more on heaviest days
• Using more than 1 pad and or tampon at a time or changing the pad or tampon throughout the night
• Soiling (leaking through the pad or tampon)
• Passing clots larger than a quarter

Iron-deficiency anemia

Heavy menstrual bleeding can cause iron-deficiency anemia because your body loses a lot of blood during each period. Blood contains iron, which is essential for making red blood cells. When you lose too much blood, your body may not have enough iron to make the red blood cells it needs. If this blood loss continues, you can develop iron-deficiency anemia.

Without treatment, iron-deficiency anemia can cause serious health problems. These may include heart problems. Severe iron-deficiency anemia can also worsen other health conditions or cause their treatments to be less effective.

Signs and symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia include:

• Feeling very weak and tired (fatigue)
• Headache
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Fast heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Pale skin
• Pica (eating nonfood items)

Services we provide

The EAGER Clinic team works with you and your family to:

• Identify undiagnosed bleeding disorders
• Treat severe iron-deficiency anemia
• Provide gynecologic treatments (hormonal or non-hormonal)
• Provide education to help you advocate for yourself

Your EAGER Clinic team

The EAGER team includes:

• Hematologists (doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating blood disorders): Nidhi Bhatt, MD, and Rohith Jesudas, MD
• A gynecologist (doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the female reproductive system): Owen Phillips, MD
• Advanced practice providers
• A nurse
• A genetic counselor
• Nurse care coordinators
• A social worker
• Dietitian

What to expect during your visit

During your visit, the EAGER team will:

• Get your medical history
• Conduct a physical exam
• Perform assessments to understand how heavy menstrual bleeding affects your quality of life
• Do lab tests to identify a possible bleeding disorder
• Provide education and support

The staff will then work with you and your family to:

• Diagnose any bleeding disorders
• Treat iron-deficiency anemia
• Provide hormonal or non-hormonal therapies to treat heavy menstrual bleeding

Patient referrals

St. Jude patient referral

If you are a St. Jude patient, your care team may refer you to the EAGER Clinic.

Non-St. Jude patient referral

If you live in the Memphis area, are younger than age 19, and have severe iron-deficiency anemia related to heavy menstrual bleeding, ask your health care provider for a referral to the St. Jude EAGER Clinic. The EAGER Clinic accepts patients through age 18 who are referred by a physician or other qualified medical professional and who meet eligibility requirements. Learn more about patient referrals at St. Jude.

Learn more

The EAGER Clinic is located in the Hematology Clinic on the Patient Care Center’s 3rd floor. The clinic is open the third Wednesday of each month for a half day.

You may contact the EAGER Clinic by calling  901-595-5041. If you are outside the Memphis area, call toll-free 1-866-278-5833, ext. 5041.

Resources outside of St. Jude