A bleeding disorder is a flaw in the body’s blood clotting system. Blood clotting (also known as coagulation) is the process that controls bleeding by changing blood from a liquid to a solid state. Clotting is a complex process involving as many as 20 different plasma proteins, or blood clotting factors. In people with bleeding disorders, these clotting factors are missing or do not work as they should. This causes them to bleed for longer periods of time than people whose blood factor levels are normal or work properly. This can lead to disability, pain and death.