Background: Hemophilia is a genetic, recessive disorder linked to the X chromosome. Its main clinical symptom is hemorrhage, whose degree depends on the level of factor VIII or IX found in plasma, usually following traumas in deep sites, such as joints, muscles and central nervous system. Objective: The objective is to present a clear and practical literature review of hemophilia, with general aspects of its pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment, as well as the new therapeutic alternatives being developed for its treatment. Methodology: the PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scielo databases were checked, using keywords in Spanish and English. We selected 32 articles, which were the basis for constructing this text. Results: a bibliographic review including basic and practical concepts for the approach and treatment of hemophilia was constructed. Conclusion: hemophilia is a potentially deadly disorder, affecting the quality of life of patients and those around them as finding a proper approach for its diagnosis and treatment is challenging.