Original research articleEffect of Depo-Provera® or Microgynon® on the painful crises of sickle cell anemia patients
Abstract
Forty-three homozygous (SS) female sickle cell anemic patients with a history of at least one painful crisis per month and desiring a reversible contraceptive were administered or Microgynon® monthly. A third group of 16 surgically sterilized patients served as control. Patients were followed for 1 year to assess possible effects of the contraceptives on the patients' painful crises. No changes were observed in any of the groups in the hematological parameters. At the end of the study, 70% of the patients receiving DMPA were pain-free and only 16% of those still reporting painful crises rated them as intense. Patients receiving Microgynon also had an amelioration of the painful crises, although at a lower rate; after 12 months, 45.5% still experienced some crises. Although less marked than in the other groups, 50.5% of the control patients also reported an improvement of their painful crisis, which may be a result of closer medical care.
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Cited by (76)
Hormonal therapies in females with blood disorders: thrombophilia, thrombosis, hemoglobinopathies, and anemias
2023, Research and Practice in Thrombosis and HaemostasisThere is widespread use of gonadal steroid hormone therapy for a variety of indications throughout the reproductive and postreproductive lifespan. These therapies may have particular benefits and specific risk among those with blood disorders, including inherited or acquired bleeding disorders, thrombophilia, thrombosis, or anemia. This clinical review is intended to provide a guidance for counseling and management of adolescent and adult biologic females with thrombophilic risk factors and/or thrombosis who require hormonal therapy. In general, synthetic estrogens present in contraceptive products should be avoided in those with a personal or strong family history of thrombosis or thrombophilias. In contrast, natural estrogens present in formulations for climacteric symptom management do not need to be avoided, and vaginal or transdermal formulations are preferred. Likewise, transdermal estradiol is preferred for gender-affirming hormone therapy and requires individualized assessment in those at high risk of thrombosis. Progestogens (either synthetic progestins or naturally occurring progesterone) can be used safely in nearly all patients. There is minimal safety evidence among anticoagulated patients at risk for thrombosis, which requires a patient-specific approach when discussing hormone therapies.
A surprising cause of a pulmonary embolism in a 17-year-old patient
2022, Visual Journal of Emergency MedicineContraceptive use and preferences among females with sickle cell disease
2022, ContraceptionFemales with sickle cell disease now have a life expectancy that extends well into and beyond their reproductive years. Pregnancy and childbirth are accompanied by high morbidity and mortality in this population, rendering contraception a critical part of their health care.
We approached adult female patients of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania hematology clinic who were of reproductive age (ages 18–45) and carried a diagnosis of sickle cell disease. We evaluated contraceptive method uptake and method characteristic preferences, as well as other reproductive history, and compared contraceptive uptake rates to that from female respondent data from the National Survey of Family Growth (2017–2019).
Of 95 eligible patients, we completed surveys with 48 participants (response rate of 51%). Over half (n = 27, 56%) of participants were not currently using any form of contraception—double the rate of the general United States population (25%). The most common contraceptives currently used were the depot medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) injection (n = 6, 13%) and the progestin intrauterine device (IUD) (n = 6, 13%). DMPA uptake was significantly higher, and permanent contraceptive and oral contraceptive pill uptake significantly lower, among these participants with sickle cell disease compared to the general United States population. Participants’ preferred contraceptive characteristics included effectiveness (n = 39, 81%), control over when to use the contraceptive (n = 39, 81%), and lack of side effects (n = 38, 79%).
Contraceptive uptake was significantly lower and method mix different among females with sickle cell disease compared to the general United States population. Further research is needed on contraceptive safety, non-contraceptive benefits, and contraceptive decision-making for females with sickle cell disease.
This study sheds light on the contraceptive choices and preferences of females with sickle cell disease, who are at disproportionate risk for pregnancy complications. In order to maximize the reproductive health of females with sickle cell disease, we must consider how their disease interacts with contraception and better understand how they approach contraceptive decision-making.
Provider Attitudes, Preferences, and Practices Regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health for Adolescents and Young Adults With Sickle Cell Disease
2021, Journal of Adolescent HealthWith improvements in life expectancy, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with sickle cell disease (SCD) increasingly face sexual and reproductive health (SRH) concerns. As subspecialists often serve as primary care providers for those with chronic disease, this study examines pediatric SCD providers' practices and attitudes related to SRH of AYA women with SCD.
We developed an adapted survey to identify SCD provider attitudes and practices in addressing menses, sexual activity, contraception, and pregnancy for their female patients. We electronically distributed this survey to the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology SCD interest group. We used descriptive statistics to analyze results.
A total of 78 pediatric SCD providers completed the survey. A majority (95%) rated SRH discussions as moderately important or higher, with 89% agreeing this care should be standardized. Most respondents reported discussing SRH, such as menses (78%), teratogenic medications (61%), and contraception (90%), with their female patients with SCD at least annually. Although most refer AYAs with SCD for birth control (83%), 39% endorsed a preferred method, with 33% of these favoring levonorgestrel intrauterine devices in this population and 40% injectable contraception. Approximately half of respondents (57%) reported that the use of combined hormonal contraceptives was unacceptable despite published guidelines that support potential benefits outweighing theoretical risk in AYAs with SCD.
The range of SRH conversations and contraceptive recommendations for AYAs from pediatric SCD providers is broad. SCD providers and AYAs with SCD would benefit from improved evidence and educational resources related to contraception as well as coordinated SRH counseling.
Women with sickle cell disease report low knowledge and use of long acting reversible contraception
2021, Journal of the National Medical AssociationHigh rates of unplanned pregnancy and low rates of contraception use are reported among women with sickle cell disease (SCD). Pregnancy in women with SCD is high risk and unintended pregnancies limit opportunities to provide indicated preconception care and counseling. Contraceptive use in women with SCD is complicated by a lack of disease-specific data about treatment risks and benefits. The purpose of this study was to describe, for the first time in the U.S. context, contraceptive use, knowledge and preferences in adult cohort of women with SCD.
A single-center survey study of women with SCD of reproductive age from our Center's adult and pediatric sickle cell centers.
Seventy-eight women ages 28-65 years (median 33.5 years, IQR 16) completed surveys. Seventy-three percent of respondents had an average of 2.5 pregnancies (S.D. 1.22) and of these, 58% reported being pregnant when they did not want to be pregnant at least once. The most common forms of contraception used were condoms (87%), birth control pills (46%), medroxyprogesterone (44%) and withdrawal (44%). Twenty-two percent of subjects reported using a long-acting reversible form of contraception and 21% reported a tubal ligation or partner vasectomy. Respondents demonstrated low knowledge of the efficacy of contraceptive options and over-estimated the risk of pregnancy with the IUD, implant. Contraceptive priorities included pregnancy prevention, decreasing HIV transmission and effects on SCD symptoms.
Women with SCD have high rates of unintended pregnancy, low knowledge of contraceptive efficacy and low use of long-acting reversible contraception.
N° 313 - Suppression menstruelle en présence de circonstances particulières
2019, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology CanadaOffrir, aux fournisseurs de soins de santé, un document de consensus canadien comptant des recommandations pour ce qui est de la suppression menstruelle chez les patientes qui font face à des obstacles physiques et/ou cognitifs ou chez les patientes qui font l'objet d'un traitement contre le cancer et pour lesquelles les règles pourraient exercer un effet délétère sur la santé.
Le présent document analyse les options disponibles aux fins de la suppression menstruelle, les indications, les contre-indications et les effets indésirables (tant immédiats qu'à long terme) propres à cette dernière, et les explorations et le monitorage nécessaires tout au long de la suppression.
Les cliniciens seront mieux renseignés au sujet des options et des indications propres à la suppression menstruelle chez les patientes qui présentent des déficiences cognitives et/ou physiques et chez les patientes qui font l'objet d'une chimiothérapie, d'une radiothérapie ou d'autres traitements contre le cancer.
La littérature publiée a été récupérée par l'intermédiaire de recherches menées dans Medline, EMBASE, OVID et The Cochrane Library au moyen d'un vocabulaire contrôlé et de mots clés appropriés (p. ex. « heavy menstrual bleeding », « menstrual suppression », « chemotherapy/radiation », « cognitive disability », « physical disability », « learning disability »). Les résultats ont été restreints aux analyses systématiques, aux essais comparatifs randomisés, aux études observationnelles et aux études pilotes. Aucune restriction n'a été imposée en matière de langue ou de date. Les recherches ont été mises à jour de façon régulière et du nouveau matériel a été intégré à la directive clinique jusqu'en septembre 2013. La littérature grise (non publiée) a été identifiée par l'intermédiaire de recherches menées dans les sites Web d'organismes s'intéressant à l'évaluation des technologies dans le domaine de la santé et d'organismes connexes, dans des collections de directives cliniques, dans des registres d'essais cliniques et auprès de sociétés de spécialité médicale nationales et internationales.
La qualité des résultats est évaluée au moyen des critères décrits dans le rapport du Groupe d'étude canadien sur les soins de santé préventifs (Tableau 1).
La rédaction (à l'intention des fournisseurs de soins de santé) de lignes directrices traitant particulièrement de la suppression menstruelle au sein des populations exposées à des risques s'avère nécessaire.
- 1
La suppression menstruelle et l'aménorrhée thérapeutique devraient être considérées comme étant des options sûres et viables pour les femmes qui doivent ou qui souhaitent obtenir une atténuation ou l'élimination de leurs règles (II-2A).
- 2
Chez les jeunes femmes qui présentent des déficiences sur le plan du développement, la suppression menstruelle ne devrait être mise en œuvre qu'après l'apparition des premières règles (II-2B).
- 3
Des agents hormonaux combinés ou ne contenant que de la progestérone peuvent être utilisés de façon prolongée ou continue aux fins de l'obtention d'une suppression menstruelle (I-A).
- 4
La tenue d'une consultation en gynécologie devrait être envisagée avant la mise en œuvre d'un traitement chez toutes les femmes préménopausées qui sont exposées au risque de connaître des saignements utérins anormaux attribuables à la chimiothérapie (II-1A).
- 5
L'acétate de leuprolide ou la contraception hormonale combinée devraient être considérés comme des moyens grandement efficaces d'assurer la prévention des saignements utérins anormaux, lorsqu'ils sont mis en œuvre avant l'administration d'un traitement anticancéreux chez des femmes préménopausées exposées à un risque de thrombocytopénie (II-2A).
- 1