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Effects of the Contraceptive Implant in Women With Sickle Cell Disease

Effects of the Contraceptive Implant in Women With Sickle Cell Disease

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05730205
Acronym
SCD CURE
Enrollment
22
Registered
2023-02-15
Start date
2023-08-02
Completion date
2027-03-01
Last updated
2026-06-12

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Sickle Cell Disease

Brief summary

The objective of this study is to measure the acceptability and impact of the progestin implant on frequency of vaso-occlusive crises, quality of life, and hematologic parameters in women with SCD.

Detailed description

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States, affecting 100,000 primarily Black people. The disease is characterized by chronic pain and infection, and ultimately reduces life expectancy by 20 years compared to people without SCD. Given the importance of effective contraception for women with sickle cell disease, as well as previously demonstrated therapeutic benefits of hormonal contraception, the etonogestrel implant may be an optimal method of contraception for women with SCD. This study aims to measure the acceptability and impact of the progestin implant on frequency of vaso-occlusive crises, quality of life, and hematologic parameters in women with SCD. This is a crossover study. Participants will be observed over two phases: 1) a 3-month phase with no hormonal contraceptive intervention and 2) a 6-month phase with the progestin implant. During the phase with no hormonal contraceptive intervention, participants must be willing to be abstinent or use a barrier method, or they must have had a permanent contraception procedure such as a tubal ligation or salpingectomy or be using the copper intrauterine device.

Interventions

DRUGNexplanon 68 MG Drug Implant

Progestin contraceptive device

Sponsors

University of Pennsylvania
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Participants will be observed over two phases: 1) a 3-month phase with no hormonal contraceptive intervention and 2) a 6-month phase with the progestin implant.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Female aged 18-45 * Diagnosis of sickle cell disease (SS, SB 0, SB+, SC) * Report of at least 1 vaso-occlusive pain episode per month on average in the previous 6 months * Willing to discontinue any hormonal contraception at the time of enrollment. Washout period of 1 month required for all hormonal contraception prior to enrollment in the study. * Access to a device with text messaging capability * Must be able to read and understand English * Willing to comply with study procedures

Exclusion criteria

* Use of Depo Provera in the past 6 months * Changes to sickle cell medications in the past 3 months * Regular blood transfusions * History of hematopoeitic stem cell transplantation * Contraindications to use of Nexplanon device as per clinical standards (not including history of venous thromboemblosim \[VTE\]) * Currently pregnant or pregnant within the last month or seeking to become pregnant * Currently breastfeeding

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Frequency of vaso-occlusive crises9 monthsSelf-reported pain crises, discrete pain episodes will be separated by at least 2 weeks

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jun 13, 2026