Repro Ready: The Essentials of Fertility Preservation
In this episode of The 7-2-1, Dr. Kemi Olaiya and Dr. Cheryl Mensah continue the conversation with fertility preservation expert, Dr. Leslie Appiah, to examine the complex reproductive health challenges faced by individuals with sickle cell disease*. The discussion highlights critical considerations for clinicians, including the hematologist’s role in counseling, navigating insurance barriers, and addressing unique risks such as hydration needs, anesthesia complications, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. The conversation also explores how disease-modifying and supportive therapies, including hydroxyurea and iron chelation, influence fertility preservation decisions. With practical insights grounded in clinical experience, this episode offers hematologists and reproductive health professionals the tools to better guide patients and families through nuanced, future-defining choices around fertility in the setting of curative therapies.
*CLICK HERE to listen to part one of the conversation with Dr. Appiah.