Contraception in Women With Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell anemia is a homozygous genetic disease with high prevalence in Brazil. There are changes in conformation and physicochemical properties of red cells that generate varied clinical manifestations among which is chronic hemolytic anemia, cardiovascular diseases, fever, splenic sequestration and usually painful crises. Women with sickle cell anemia have high maternal-fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. During pregnancy, there is intensification of maternal anemia, episodes of painful crises; and also, more obstetric risks, such as pre-eclampsia, thromboembolism and hemorrhage. Thus, there is the need for adequate reproductive family planning for this population conducted mainly through hormonal contraception. The World Health Organization recommends that all contraceptive methods may be prescribed for people with sickle cell anemia women, being the progestogen-only contraceptive methods the most indicated due to no changes in venous or arterial thrombosis. Nevertheless, there is need for further scientific evidence as the best contraceptive choice among women with sickle cell anemia in relation to safety, adhesion and reduction of pain crises. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical effect through safety of etonogestrel-releasing contraceptive implant in women with sickle cell anemia during twelve months.