Skip to main content

A Better Me with Sickle Cell Disease

Reproductive Health

Fatigue is a common symptom of Sickle Cell

Reproductive Health

Sickle cell disease can have an impact on the sexual health of men especially.

  • Erectile dysfunction, or when a man cannot get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual activity, is 2.5x higher in men with sickle cell disease
  • Treatment: You may be able to take medication to help treat erectile dysfunction

Men with sickle cell disease are also at risk for developing priapism, which is a sustained painful erection in men. If you have an erection lasting longer than 4 hours you need to report to the emergency room immediately.

  • Treatment/Prevention: You can reduce your risk of developing priapism by taking medications such as hydroxyurea, which reduce the number of sickled cells in your body and thus the risk for vessel blockage.
Back to top