title: Contraception for individuals with sickle cell disease: a systematic review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women with sickle cell disease have an increased risk of pregnancy-related complications and need safe, effective contraceptive methods to prevent unintended pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review to examine the safety of hormonal and intrauterine contraceptive use among women with sickle cell disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight articles met the inclusion criteria. The evidence was of fair to poor quality and suggested that progestin-only and combined hormonal contraception had no effect on frequency of sickle crises or other adverse events and no effect on hematologic parameters associated with sickle crises. No studies examined the risk of thromboembolism in combined hormonal contraceptive users with sickle cell disease. There was insufficient evidence to comment on the safety of intrauterine contraception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While data are limited, there is no evidence to suggest that hormonal contraceptive use among women with sickle cell disease is associated with an increased risk of clinical complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. lbhadda@emory.edu
authors.forename: Lisa B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Legardy-Williams
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cwiak
authors.forename: Denise J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jamieson
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D003267:Contraception / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000517:prevention & control; D011372:Progestins / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D011372:Progestins