Painful crises and menstruation in sickle cell disease.

Fifty-two women with sickle cell disease, having genotypes of hemoglobin SS, SC, and S-thalassemia, participated in a questionnaire study pertaining to the relationship of their menses and the occurrence of painful crises. The data indicated that those patients who had sickle cell crises were significantly older and had been menstruating longer, with heavier periods. The results point to the onset of menstruation as a possible precipitant of painful crises in some women with sickle cell disease.