New study links sickle cell anemia to lower ovarian reserve in women

Women with sickle cell anemia (SCA), the most common and severe form of sickle cell disease (SCD), have significantly lower ovarian reserve relative to women without SCA and with proven fertility, a study in Nigeria shows. Ovarian reserve is a marker-based estimate of the remaining supply of eggs in the ovaries.

While women with SCA also had an altered profile of markers of oxidative stress, an imbalance that can damage cells and could influence that reserve, the researchers found no significant association between the oxidative stress markers measured and ovarian reserve.