About this study
Sickle cell disease is a common blood disorder passed down in families. Doctors do not know how this disease may affect a person’s ability to have children in the future.
Children with sickle cell disease may have health problems as they grow. Doctors do not fully understand how this disease affects the ovaries. The ovaries contain eggs and make the hormones that cause puberty and menstrual periods. These are needed to have children later in life. Doctors need to learn if girls with this disease have ovaries that work normally.
The FORSCD study includes a blood test called the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) test. This test gives clues about how many eggs are in the ovaries.
Researchers will compare AMH levels in girls with sickle cell disease to girls the same age who do not have the disease. Girls who take part will have small amounts of blood collected during their regular clinic visits, at the same time as their usual blood tests. This happens once a year until age 19.
Participants will also answer questions about puberty, menstrual periods, pain medicine, and hormone medicines that may affect the AMH level. Researchers will gather information about treatment and complications of sickle cell disease from medical records.
People without sickle cell disease will have 1 study visit with a blood draw and the same questions.
What we learn through this study may help improve care for girls with sickle cell disease in the future.
Eligibility overview
- Female, age 10–18 years
- Diagnosed with sickle cell disease, or a healthy female without sickle cell disease
- Has not had a stem cell transplant or gene therapy
- Not pregnant