Can sickle cell patients take family planning?
Yes they can and should – until they are ready to have children. It is common belief that sickle cell patients should not take family planning but this is quite wrong. The risks during pregnancy are certainly greater than any risks of family planning. The best method of reliable contraception is the 3-monthly injection (Depoprovera) because it improves other aspects of sickle cell disease. The pill is most widely used but intra-uterine devices (the coil) and condoms are commonly used. There are so many methods of family planning available today.
