Tens of thousands of UK women are completely unaware they have a genetic bleeding disorder according to UK charity The Haemophilia Society.

The charity is urging women to get 'Talking Red' to spread the message and alert people to the symptoms, as well as advising on where to go for practical support or medical advice.

A bleeding disorder is a condition that affects the way your blood normally clots. In women, symptoms include frequent and heavy periods, bruising easily, frequent or heavy nosebleeds, and bleeding heavily after a procedure or childbirth.

A recent survey by The Haemophilia Society revealed that a third of people would assume that a woman with bruises was suffering from domestic abuse and a fifth would assume that a child with bruises was the result of non-accidental injury.

Nicola Jones, 44, from St Albans, grew up in Chiswell Green, and was diagnosed with Haemophilia when she was approximately seven-years-old.

She said: "This happened purely by chance, as I'd has an accident at school, being accidentally pushed into the chairs in the hall while doing drama.

"We were meant to stop running, and someone didn't and ran into me and I went flying into the chairs where the teachers were sitting.

"I got a black eye, but it wasn't your average black eye, it was a black eye along half my face.

"It was that big and colourful that at the end of school my brother was that embarrassed he put my hood up until my mum picked us up."

Nicola new something was not right. Her dad is Haemophiliac, and usually females carry the gene and pass it on to their sons. But when Nicola's mum saw the bruising she knew it was more than that.

She said: "I'd also be covered in bruises on my legs. Half the time I didn't even know why or how the bruises got there, but the accident at school was enough for my mum to ask questions and want answers."

When Nicola went to the Haemophilia centre, the doctor was adamant she would not have Haemophilia, as females only carry the gene. But when the results came back from the tests, the doctor was shocked to find Nicola did have haemophilia.

Nicola added: "At the point of being diagnosed, the doctors said I was the third known girl to suffer with Haemophilia, and even then and nowadays, women are not known as haemophiliacs, but as haemophilia carriers.

"Thankfully, treatment has come a long way since the 60s, 70s and 80s along with doctors and health professionals understating of Haemophilia or other bleeding disorders, but it's not always because someone has a family history, sometimes people don't have that, and might not question prolonged bleeding, or more than average bruising.

"But I would say to anyone, do not leave this, and get it checked out.

"The Haemophilia society are also on hand to talk to and discuss anything that might ring alarm bells for you, and talking red is a great idea for women to be recognised that we bleed to."

Chief Executive of The Haemophilia Society, Liz Carroll, said: "Many women think their symptoms are normal so they don’t seek help.

"Our message is don’t be embarrassed to talk about bleeding - the more we talk, the more informed women and the wider community will be, and that can only help the thousands that are currently suffering in silence or facing hurtful and unfounded allegations because of their symptoms."