Sickle cell diseaseis an inherited form ofanemiawhere red blood cells become abnormally long and pointed, similar to the shape of a banana. It affects approximately 100,000 people in the United States and millions worldwide.In the U.S., it occurs in about one out of every 365 African-American births and, more rarely, in Hispanic-American births.Many people wonder if white people can get sickle cell disease.Although sickle cell disease is not an extremely rare condition, this article will go over some lesser-known facts and misconceptions that everyone should know.
Sickle cell diseaseis an inherited form ofanemiawhere red blood cells become abnormally long and pointed, similar to the shape of a banana. It affects approximately 100,000 people in the United States and millions worldwide.
In the U.S., it occurs in about one out of every 365 African-American births and, more rarely, in Hispanic-American births.Many people wonder if white people can get sickle cell disease.
Although sickle cell disease is not an extremely rare condition, this article will go over some lesser-known facts and misconceptions that everyone should know.
1You Don’t Have to Be Black to Have Sickle CellJens Magnusson/Ikon Images/Getty ImagesIt’s true that sickle cell disease has long been associated with people of African descent, but it can be found in people of many races.Other groups more likely to have sickle cell anemia include Hispanic-Americans of Central and South American descent and people of Middle Eastern, Asian, Indian, and Mediterranean heritage.While white people don’t rank amongst those most likely to have sickle cell, they can develop it as well.Since it can affect people of any background, all babies born in the United States are tested for sickle cell anemia.
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You Don’t Have to Be Black to Have Sickle CellJens Magnusson/Ikon Images/Getty ImagesIt’s true that sickle cell disease has long been associated with people of African descent, but it can be found in people of many races.Other groups more likely to have sickle cell anemia include Hispanic-Americans of Central and South American descent and people of Middle Eastern, Asian, Indian, and Mediterranean heritage.While white people don’t rank amongst those most likely to have sickle cell, they can develop it as well.Since it can affect people of any background, all babies born in the United States are tested for sickle cell anemia.
You Don’t Have to Be Black to Have Sickle Cell
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It’s true that sickle cell disease has long been associated with people of African descent, but it can be found in people of many races.
Other groups more likely to have sickle cell anemia include Hispanic-Americans of Central and South American descent and people of Middle Eastern, Asian, Indian, and Mediterranean heritage.
While white people don’t rank amongst those most likely to have sickle cell, they can develop it as well.
Since it can affect people of any background, all babies born in the United States are tested for sickle cell anemia.
2It’s an Inherited DiseaseJGI / Getty ImagesSickle cell disease is not contagious like a cold. People are either born with it or they are not. If you are born with sickle cell disease both of your parents havesickle cell trait(or one parent with sickle cell trait and the other with another hemoglobin trait).A person with sickle cell trait cannot develop sickle cell disease but can pass the gene on to their children.
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It’s an Inherited DiseaseJGI / Getty ImagesSickle cell disease is not contagious like a cold. People are either born with it or they are not. If you are born with sickle cell disease both of your parents havesickle cell trait(or one parent with sickle cell trait and the other with another hemoglobin trait).A person with sickle cell trait cannot develop sickle cell disease but can pass the gene on to their children.
It’s an Inherited Disease
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Sickle cell disease is not contagious like a cold. People are either born with it or they are not. If you are born with sickle cell disease both of your parents havesickle cell trait(or one parent with sickle cell trait and the other with another hemoglobin trait).
A person with sickle cell trait cannot develop sickle cell disease but can pass the gene on to their children.
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It Is Diagnosed at Birth
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4It Has a Connection to MalariaBenjamin Van Der Spek/EyeEm/Creative RF/Getty ImagesPeople with sickle cell trait can be found most heavily in areas of the world that havemalaria. This is because sickle cell trait can protect a person from becoming infected with malaria.This doesn’t mean a person with sickle cell trait cannot beinfected with malaria, but it is less common than a person without sickle cell trait.
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It Has a Connection to MalariaBenjamin Van Der Spek/EyeEm/Creative RF/Getty ImagesPeople with sickle cell trait can be found most heavily in areas of the world that havemalaria. This is because sickle cell trait can protect a person from becoming infected with malaria.This doesn’t mean a person with sickle cell trait cannot beinfected with malaria, but it is less common than a person without sickle cell trait.
It Has a Connection to Malaria
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People with sickle cell trait can be found most heavily in areas of the world that havemalaria. This is because sickle cell trait can protect a person from becoming infected with malaria.
This doesn’t mean a person with sickle cell trait cannot beinfected with malaria, but it is less common than a person without sickle cell trait.
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Not All Types of Sickle Cell Are Created Equal
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6Sickle Cell Causes More Than Just PainJGI/Jamie Grill/Creative RF/Getty ImagesThere is a lot more to sickle cell disease than justpainful crises. Sickle cell disease is a disorder of the red blood cells, which supply oxygen to all the organs.Because sickle cell disease occurs in the blood, every organ in the body can be affected. Patients with SCD are at risk for stroke, eye disease, gallstones, serious bacterial infections, and anemia, to name a few.
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Sickle Cell Causes More Than Just PainJGI/Jamie Grill/Creative RF/Getty ImagesThere is a lot more to sickle cell disease than justpainful crises. Sickle cell disease is a disorder of the red blood cells, which supply oxygen to all the organs.Because sickle cell disease occurs in the blood, every organ in the body can be affected. Patients with SCD are at risk for stroke, eye disease, gallstones, serious bacterial infections, and anemia, to name a few.
Sickle Cell Causes More Than Just Pain
JGI/Jamie Grill/Creative RF/Getty Images
There is a lot more to sickle cell disease than justpainful crises. Sickle cell disease is a disorder of the red blood cells, which supply oxygen to all the organs.
Because sickle cell disease occurs in the blood, every organ in the body can be affected. Patients with SCD are at risk for stroke, eye disease, gallstones, serious bacterial infections, and anemia, to name a few.
7Children With Sickle Cell Are at Risk for StrokeMedicalRF.com/Getty ImagesAlthough all people with sickle cell disease are at risk for stroke, children with sickle cell disease have a much higher risk than the children without sickle cell disease.Because of this risk, physicians who treat children with sickle cell disease use an ultrasound of the brain to screen and determine who is at highest risk of stroke and start treatment to prevent this complication.
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Children With Sickle Cell Are at Risk for StrokeMedicalRF.com/Getty ImagesAlthough all people with sickle cell disease are at risk for stroke, children with sickle cell disease have a much higher risk than the children without sickle cell disease.Because of this risk, physicians who treat children with sickle cell disease use an ultrasound of the brain to screen and determine who is at highest risk of stroke and start treatment to prevent this complication.
Children With Sickle Cell Are at Risk for Stroke
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Although all people with sickle cell disease are at risk for stroke, children with sickle cell disease have a much higher risk than the children without sickle cell disease.
Because of this risk, physicians who treat children with sickle cell disease use an ultrasound of the brain to screen and determine who is at highest risk of stroke and start treatment to prevent this complication.
8Antibiotic Changes Life ExpectancyBlend Images - Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Creative RF/Getty ImagesThe antibiotic penicillin is life-saving. People with sickle cell disease are at increased risk of serious bacterial infections.Starting penicillin twice a day for the first five years of life has changed the course of this condition from something only seen in children into a condition people live into adulthood with.
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Antibiotic Changes Life ExpectancyBlend Images - Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Creative RF/Getty ImagesThe antibiotic penicillin is life-saving. People with sickle cell disease are at increased risk of serious bacterial infections.Starting penicillin twice a day for the first five years of life has changed the course of this condition from something only seen in children into a condition people live into adulthood with.
Antibiotic Changes Life Expectancy
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The antibiotic penicillin is life-saving. People with sickle cell disease are at increased risk of serious bacterial infections.
Starting penicillin twice a day for the first five years of life has changed the course of this condition from something only seen in children into a condition people live into adulthood with.
9It Can Affect Periodsljubaphoto/Getty ImagesTeens with sickle cell disease may not start their periods at the average age of their peers. People who menstruate and have sickle cell disease may also have shorter cycles and abnormal bleeding.Sometimes, when a person with sickle cell disease has a period, it can trigger an attack of sickle cell pain (acute vaso-occlusive pain).However, studies have found that most people who menstruate and have sickle cell can tell the difference between pain from their period and pain from a sickle cell crisis.
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It Can Affect Periodsljubaphoto/Getty ImagesTeens with sickle cell disease may not start their periods at the average age of their peers. People who menstruate and have sickle cell disease may also have shorter cycles and abnormal bleeding.Sometimes, when a person with sickle cell disease has a period, it can trigger an attack of sickle cell pain (acute vaso-occlusive pain).However, studies have found that most people who menstruate and have sickle cell can tell the difference between pain from their period and pain from a sickle cell crisis.
It Can Affect Periods
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Teens with sickle cell disease may not start their periods at the average age of their peers. People who menstruate and have sickle cell disease may also have shorter cycles and abnormal bleeding.
Sometimes, when a person with sickle cell disease has a period, it can trigger an attack of sickle cell pain (acute vaso-occlusive pain).
However, studies have found that most people who menstruate and have sickle cell can tell the difference between pain from their period and pain from a sickle cell crisis.
10Fertility Challenges Are Commonglobalmoments / Getty ImagesSickle cell disease can make it challenging for people to get pregnant. Some of the issues have to do with the disease itself, while others are related to the treatments for sickle cell.People who have sickle cell may not be able to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy for a few reasons:Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in their bodiesDamage to reproductive organs from the disease and/or its treatmentsBlood disorders related to getting transfusions (hemochromatosis)They are taking medications like hydroxyurea that would be harmful to a developing fetusPeople with sickle cell disease who want to have children might be able to use assisted reproduction or surrogacy.
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Fertility Challenges Are Commonglobalmoments / Getty ImagesSickle cell disease can make it challenging for people to get pregnant. Some of the issues have to do with the disease itself, while others are related to the treatments for sickle cell.People who have sickle cell may not be able to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy for a few reasons:Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in their bodiesDamage to reproductive organs from the disease and/or its treatmentsBlood disorders related to getting transfusions (hemochromatosis)They are taking medications like hydroxyurea that would be harmful to a developing fetusPeople with sickle cell disease who want to have children might be able to use assisted reproduction or surrogacy.
Fertility Challenges Are Common
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Sickle cell disease can make it challenging for people to get pregnant. Some of the issues have to do with the disease itself, while others are related to the treatments for sickle cell.
People who have sickle cell may not be able to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy for a few reasons:
People with sickle cell disease who want to have children might be able to use assisted reproduction or surrogacy.
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Treatments Are Available
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There is more than pain medication for treating sickle cell disease. Today, blood transfusions and a medicine calledhydroxyureaare changing the lives of people with sickle cell.Other treatments include gene-editing therapies such as Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel) and Lyfgenia (lovotibeglogene autotemcel).
These therapies are allowing people with sickle cell disease to live longer lives with fewer complications. Multiple research studies are ongoing to find additional treatment options.
The modified cells are resistant to sickling, which reduces symptoms of sickle cell disease. These treatments are not a cure for sickle cell anemia but are designed to be a one-time treatment to alleviate symptoms for a lifetime.
12Sickle Cell Can Be CuredThomas Barwick/Creative RM/Getty ImagesBone marrow (also called stem cell) transplantation is the only cure.The best success has come from donors who are siblings whose genetic makeup matches the person with sickle cell disease.Sometimes types of donors, like unrelated individuals or parents, are used but mostly in clinical research studies. In the coming years, gene therapy looks like a promising treatment.If you or your family member has sickle cell disease, it is important to have regular follow-ups with a physician to ensure up-to-date care is provided.
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Sickle Cell Can Be CuredThomas Barwick/Creative RM/Getty ImagesBone marrow (also called stem cell) transplantation is the only cure.The best success has come from donors who are siblings whose genetic makeup matches the person with sickle cell disease.Sometimes types of donors, like unrelated individuals or parents, are used but mostly in clinical research studies. In the coming years, gene therapy looks like a promising treatment.If you or your family member has sickle cell disease, it is important to have regular follow-ups with a physician to ensure up-to-date care is provided.
Sickle Cell Can Be Cured
Thomas Barwick/Creative RM/Getty Images
Bone marrow (also called stem cell) transplantation is the only cure.The best success has come from donors who are siblings whose genetic makeup matches the person with sickle cell disease.
Sometimes types of donors, like unrelated individuals or parents, are used but mostly in clinical research studies. In the coming years, gene therapy looks like a promising treatment.
If you or your family member has sickle cell disease, it is important to have regular follow-ups with a physician to ensure up-to-date care is provided.
SummarySickle cell disease affects millions of people around the world. While it’s very common in people of African heritage, people of other races and ethnicity can also inherit the condition. For example, white people can get sickle cell disease.Having a sickle cell gene does not mean you will have symptoms of sickle cell disease, but you could still pass it on to a child. While it’s true that having sickle cell disease and being treated for it can affect your fertility, you still might be able to conceive.There are treatments for sickle cell disease and in some cases, it can be cured.Frequently Asked QuestionsAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 3 in every 1,000 white newborns has sickle cell disease.One or both parents can pass a sickle cell gene. A parent’s sex doesn’t make this any more or less likely.Sickle cell disease and its treatments can affect fertility in men and women. A man with sickle cell disease is more likely to have fertility problems. It might be more difficult for them to help conceive a child, but it’s not impossible.
Summary
Sickle cell disease affects millions of people around the world. While it’s very common in people of African heritage, people of other races and ethnicity can also inherit the condition. For example, white people can get sickle cell disease.
Having a sickle cell gene does not mean you will have symptoms of sickle cell disease, but you could still pass it on to a child. While it’s true that having sickle cell disease and being treated for it can affect your fertility, you still might be able to conceive.
There are treatments for sickle cell disease and in some cases, it can be cured.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 3 in every 1,000 white newborns has sickle cell disease.One or both parents can pass a sickle cell gene. A parent’s sex doesn’t make this any more or less likely.Sickle cell disease and its treatments can affect fertility in men and women. A man with sickle cell disease is more likely to have fertility problems. It might be more difficult for them to help conceive a child, but it’s not impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 3 in every 1,000 white newborns has sickle cell disease.
One or both parents can pass a sickle cell gene. A parent’s sex doesn’t make this any more or less likely.
Sickle cell disease and its treatments can affect fertility in men and women. A man with sickle cell disease is more likely to have fertility problems. It might be more difficult for them to help conceive a child, but it’s not impossible.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sickle cell disease.
American Society of Hematology.Sickle Cell Disease.
Stimpson SJ, Rebele EC, DeBaun MR.Common gynecological challenges in adolescents with sickle cell disease.Expert Rev Hematol. 2016;9(2):187-196. doi:10.1586/17474086.2016.1126177
Sharma D, Day ME, Stimpson SJ, et al.Acute Vaso-Occlusive Pain is Temporally Associated with the Onset of Menstruation in Women with Sickle Cell Disease.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2019;28(2):162-169. doi:10.1089/jwh.2018.7147
Ghafuri DL, Stimpson SJ, Day ME, James A, DeBaun MR, Sharma D.Fertility challenges for women with sickle cell disease.Expert Rev Hematol. 2017;10(10):891-901. doi:10.1080/17474086.2017.1367279
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).About sickle cell disease.
Smith-Whitley.Reproductive issues in sickle cell disease.Hematology. 2014;2014(1):418-424. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2014.1.418
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