Impact of sickle cell anaemia on reproductive health: a narrative review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary red blood cell disorder with multi-systemic manifestations, including chronic pain, anaemia, stroke, renal complications, and increased mortality. While these clinical features have been well documented, reproductive health complications among individuals with SCD remain comparatively underexplored.

Main body

The recurrent vaso-occlusive crises, resulting from microvascular obstruction, can lead to infarctions in the testes and ovaries, thereby impairing spermatogenesis and ovarian reserve. Other associated complications such as priapism and gonadal failure further compromise fertility. Furthermore, whereas chronic transfusion therapy is required in many patients, it predisposes to iron overload-induced gonadal dysfunction

SUBMITTER: Kotam GP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12538940 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature