Congenital factor VII deficiency is a bleeding disorder in which there are low levels of factor VII in the blood. Factor VII plays an important role in the blood-clotting process. When there is not enough factor VII in the blood, clotting can take much longer than normal or may not occur at all.

• Mild to moderate congenital factor VII deficiency is marked by increased bleeding after surgery and trauma
• Severe congenital factor VII deficiency is marked by spontaneous, severe, and even life-threatening bleeding
   

• Children who inherit an abnormal gene from both parents. Men and women have an equal chance of being born with congenital factor VII deficiency
• Congenital factor VII deficiency is rare, affecting an estimated 1 in every 300,000 to 500,000 people
   

The most common signs of congenital factor VII deficiency, other than excessive bleeding after injury or invasive procedures, include:

• Frequent nosebleeds
• Bleeding from the gums
• Very heavy, prolonged menstrual bleeding
• Head bleeds in newborns
• Prolonged bleeding following circumcision
• Intestinal bleeding

Congenital factor VII deficiency can be detected at birth. However, some people with congenital factor VII deficiency grow into adulthood without knowing they have it. The blood test that confirms congenital factor VII deficiency is called a clotting assay. It measures the amount of time it takes to create a clot.