Sickle cell,
explained like
a human would.
Clear, honest answers about sickle cell, built for young people living with it and the families beside them, across the UK.
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.
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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.
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Privacy notice
Last updated 22 September 2026
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This website, Sickle Cell Sense, is run by Kwapong Health CIC, a Community Interest Company (company number 17271036). We are responsible for the personal data described here.
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Terms and conditions
Last updated 23 September 2026
Who we are
This website, Sickle Cell Sense, is run by Kwapong Health CIC, a Community Interest Company registered in England (company number 17271036). By using this website, you agree to these terms. If you don't agree with them, please don't use the site.
Not medical advice
Everything on this site is general awareness content, not medical advice, and is not a substitute for speaking to a doctor or specialist team. We source claims to the NHS, NHS England and NICE where we can, but sickle cell care is individual: always follow the advice of your own clinicians, and contact a healthcare professional or emergency services if you are worried about your health or someone else's.
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We try to keep this site accurate and up to date, sourced to the NHS and NICE wherever we make a health claim, but we can't guarantee it's complete, current or error-free, and medical guidance can change. We're not liable for decisions made based on this site's content, to the fullest extent the law allows.
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This site is provided as is. To the fullest extent the law allows, Kwapong Health CIC is not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of this site, including from it being unavailable or containing an error. Nothing here limits liability that can't legally be excluded, such as for death or personal injury caused by our negligence.
Changes to these terms
We may update these terms as the site or our work changes. We'll update the date at the top when we do; continuing to use the site after a change means you accept the updated terms.
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Questions about these terms? Get in touch via our contact page.