Sickle Cell Pain Events Linked to Period Cycle

sickle cell pain events sickle cell pain crisis sickle cell pain sickle cell disease pain sickle cell pain crisis icd 10 sickle cell anemia pain pain and sickle cell disease painful crisis in sickle cell disease sickle cell trait leg pain sickle cell and pain sickle cell anemia pain crisis why does sickle cell disease cause pain pain management in sickle cell disease pain management of sickle cell disease sickle cell crisis pain management protocol what does sickle cell pain feel like is sickle cell disease painful is sickle cell painful sickle cell anemia pain management why does sickle cell cause pain abdominal pain in sickle cell home remedies for sickle cell pain sickle cell anemia pain treatment sickle cell pain icd 10 sickle cell pain relief sickle cell pain treatment why does sickle cell anemia cause pain why is sickle cell painful chest pain in sickle cell disease is sickle cell anemia painful sickle cell and pain management sickle cell pain crisis treatment abdominal pain in sickle cell disease best pain medication for sickle cell crisis can sickle cell trait cause pain does sickle cell trait cause pain icd 10 code for sickle cell pain crisis joint pain in sickle cell disease pain relief for sickle cell crisis sickle cell and chest pain sickle cell anemia abdominal pain sickle cell anemia chest pain sickle cell anemia stomach pain sickle cell anemia with pain icd 10 sickle cell crisis pain management why is sickle cell anemia painful icd 10 sickle cell pain crisis medicine for sickle cell pain pain management in sickle cell pain medication for sickle cell pain medication for sickle cell anemia sickle cell abdominal pain sickle cell and joint pain sickle cell and stomach pain sickle cell anemia and joint pain sickle cell anemia joint pain sickle cell joint pain sickle cell leg pain treatment sickle cell medication for pain sickle cell pain crisis symptoms sickle cell stomach pain sickle cell trait pain sickle cell trait pain crisis what causes pain in sickle cell disease abdominal pain sickle cell disease chest pain in sickle cell chest pain sickle cell does sickle cell cause pain pain in sickle cell disease sickle cell anemia pain medication sickle cell chest pain sickle cell disease chest pain sickle cell pain management sickle cell pain medication sickle cell trait and pain what causes pain in sickle cell anemia what causes the pain associated with a sickle cell crisis abdominal pain sickle cell buprenorphine for sickle cell pain can the sickle cell trait cause pain joint pain in sickle cell anaemia joint pain sickle cell sickle cell and abdominal pain sickle cell pain crisis icd 10 code stomach pain sickle cell what causes the pain in sickle cell anemia a patient is admitted with sickle cell vaso-occlusive pain crisis abdominal pain crisis in sickle cell disease acute chest pain sickle cell disease acute pain related to sickle cell crisis care plan acute painful exacerbation of sickle cell disease is called acute sickle cell pain crisis icd 10 can sickle cell trait cause leg pain chest pain sickle cell anemia does sickle cell disease cause pain gabapentin for sickle cell pain hip pain in sickle cell disease how bad is sickle cell pain how do you make sickle cell pain go away how does sickle cell cause pain how long does sickle cell pain last
  • BlackDoctor Pro Editors
  • 04/21/2025

Menstrual inflammation elevates sickle cell pain in Black women. Contraceptives may reduce crises. Explore treatment implications.

Women with sickle cell disease often have pain crises around the time of their period, and researchers now think they know why.

Inflammation increases significantly in women during their period, and that could be contributing to sickle cell pain events, researchers reported.

“The amount of inflammation is significantly elevated in the follicular phase, or first half, of the menstrual cycle in female patients with sickle cell disease,” said lead researcher Dr. Jessica Wu, a resident in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

“This observation correlates with what we see in the literature, that this is the time in which this patient population has the most vaso-occlusive events (VOEs),” the technical term for [sickle cell pain events], Wu added in a news release.

This finding could point to treatments that would help reduce women’s risk of sickle cell pain events, researchers said.

“Many hormonal contraceptives can suppress menstruation or suppress the hormone fluctuations that occur from cycle to cycle, so contraceptives could help these patients manage their pain crises,” Wu said.

This is the first study to examine the relationship between menstrual cycles and inflammation in sickle cell disease, Wu noted.

Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited red blood cell disorder in the U.S., researchers said in background notes. The disease causes red blood cells to become misshapen and sticky.

These cells can become lodged in veins and block blood flow, leading to organ damage and infection, researchers said. These blockages can also cause VOEs, episodes of severe pain so intense that people often require hospitalization.

For the new study, researchers analyzed blood samples of 13 women and 18 men with sickle cell disease. The team specifically tracked C-reactive protein, which is produced by the liver when there’s inflammation in a person’s body.

Researchers found that C-reactive protein was higher on average among women in the first half of their menstrual cycle, compared to women in the second half.

These results jibe with earlier research, which has shown that women with sickle cell have more frequent and severe pain events around the time of their period, researchers said.

“The menstrual cycle is often overlooked in research and clinical care, but can interact with health in important ways, as we are seeing in sickle cell disease,” senior researcher Dr. Andrea Roe, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania, said in a news release.

Lead author Wu said sickle cell disease is debilitating and painful and learning more about its effects on women is important.

“The more data we have about how it presents in female patients, the better we can counsel them on anticipating and managing their pain,” she said.

However, Wu said more research is needed, both to track more women and to observe inflammation throughout each woman’s menstrual cycle.

The new study was published April 9 in the journal Blood Vessels, Thrombosis & Hemostasis.

How do sickle cell pain events affect Black women?

Sickle cell pain for Black women is a significant health burden often compounded by systemic inequities. The unpredictable and excruciating pain crises can disrupt every aspect of their lives, from work and family responsibilities to social engagement.

Furthermore, studies suggest that the pain reported by Black patients, including women with sickle cell, is often underestimated and undertreated by healthcare providers, potentially due to racial bias. This can lead to delays in receiving adequate care, increased hospitalizations, and a diminished quality of life.

The intersection of race and gender can create unique challenges in accessing equitable and compassionate care for Black women living with sickle cell disease.

More information

The Cleveland Clinic has more on sickle cell crisis.

SOURCE: American Society of Hematology, news release, April 9, 2025

inflammationmenstrual cyclepain managementsickle cell diseasewomen's health
AI-Powered Search. Human-Created Content.

Expert Medical Insights, Straight to Your Inbox

Insights That Keep Black Healthcare Leaders at the Forefront

By subscribing, you consent to receive emails from BlackDoctor.pro You may unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.

Top Articles

Empowering Culturally-Sensitive Healthcare Professionals

BlackDoctor Pro is an online destination created specifically for Black doctors and culturally-sensitive healthcare professionals. Our platform delivers trusted, relevant, and timely medical content, including in-depth articles, the latest treatment updates, healthcare policy, and emerging clinical studies. We are committed to empowering HCPs with the knowledge, resources, and support needed to achieve exceptional health outcomes in black communities.
Categories
Information
Our Brands

Are you a healthcare professional? Register with us today!

Copyright © 2026, BlackDoctor, Inc. All rights reserved.
BlackDoctor Pro is an online destination created specifically for Black doctors and other culturally-sensitive healthcare professionals. Our platform delivers trusted, relevant, and timely medical content, including in-depth articles, the latest treatment updates, healthcare policy, and emerging clinical studies.
AI-Powered Search. Human-Created Content.