Sickle cell,
explained like
a human would.
Clear, honest answers about sickle cell, and a community we are building for young people living with it and the families beside them, across the UK. No jargon, no judgement.
Myth or fact?
Plenty of what people "know" about sickle cell is wrong. Let's fix that.
Do you know your trait?
If both parents carry sickle cell trait, there's a 1 in 4 chance their baby will be born with sickle cell disease. Many carriers never find out.
Try the inheritance calculatorSources: the NHS website on sickle cell disease, symptoms, causes, treatment, carriers, screening in pregnancy and the newborn blood spot test. NHS England: gene-editing therapy announcement, 31 January 2025 (people living with sickle cell disease in England, new cases a year) and Understanding sickle cell trait, December 2025. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Sickle cell disease quality standard QS58 (pain relief within 30 minutes of arriving at hospital).
What sickle cell actually is
Sickle cell disorder is an inherited condition affecting haemoglobin, the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen. Instead of staying round and flexible, cells can turn stiff and crescent-shaped, getting stuck in small blood vessels.
What can trigger a crisis
A pain crisis can start with no warning at all, but these make one more likely.
Questions people ask us most
One blood test. Answers for life.
Carrying sickle cell trait does not make you ill, but if your partner carries it too, it changes what you'd want to know before starting a family. Testing is free on the NHS: ask your GP for a haemoglobinopathy screen.
Inheritance calculator
Pick what each parent carries to see the odds for each pregnancy.
Help us get this work off the ground.
Kwapong Health CIC is newly formed. Your gift helps us get started on our aims: practical support, awareness and community for people living with sickle cell.
Kwapong Health CIC
A Community Interest Company set up to support young people with sickle cell and their families across the UK. As a CIC, our assets are protected by an asset lock and must be used for the benefit of the community.
What we aim to do
Say hello, ask anything
Whether you want support or want to share your story, drop us an email and a real person will read it.
Privacy notice
Last updated 21 September 2026
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