title: Contraceptive practices in women with sickle-cell disease.
abstract: This was a cross-sectional study of sexually active women with sickle-cell disease (SCD) managed at São Paulo Federal University during a one-year period. A total of 54 women were included. Mean age was 32.0 (11.2, standard deviation) years and almost 95% were black or of mixed racial ancestry. Almost 80% reported a history of multiple blood transfusions, 50% had kidney disease and 17% had a history of thrombosis. Over 80% of them had used some form of contraception, mostly combined hormonal contraceptive (52%) or progestin-only contraceptives (46%). Although most women had multiple comorbidities which would contraindicate the use of combined hormonal contraceptives, this was the most popular method used by them. We did not identify an association between the use of combined hormonal contraceptives and major complications. Larger, prospective studies are needed to evaluate the use and the effects of contraceptive methods in women with SCD.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Sao Paulo Federal University (UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Natália S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: b Department of Paediatrics , Sao Paulo Federal University , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Josefina Pellegrini
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Sao Paulo Federal University (UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Sao Paulo Federal University (UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Torloni
authors.affiliation: c Department of Clinics , Sao Paulo Federal University , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Sao Paulo Federal University (UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristina A F
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Guazzelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000523:psychology*; D001938:Brazil; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal
keywords: Hormonal oral contraceptive; anaemia; combined oral contraceptives; sickle-cell anaemia