[im3w1l]

Fetal hemoglobin binds stronger to oxygen than normal hemoglobin, so that a fetus can "steal" oxygen from its mother's blood. But if the mother has been crispred to also have fetal hemoglobin, then this won't work right? Meaning it's a male only treatment?

[milkcircle]

Hi. I do research pertaining to this disease and can answer your very thoughtful question. It is in fact safe for pregnant women to have high levels of fetal hemoglobin. There is a condition known as Hereditary Persistence of Fetal Hemoglobin (HPFH) in rare individuals who express near 100% fetal hemoglobin into adulthood, and they are able to undergo pregnancy perfectly normally with no harm to mother or child. While it is true that HbF has a mildly higher affinity to oxygen, it has not been shown in population-based studies that having higher levels of HbF by itself causes any actual clinical adverse events.

[sandworm101]

Means that it is a treatment for anyone not able to have children, which is about half of females (post-menopausal, plus other infertilities).

[williamdclt]

Add to that all women willing to give up the ability to have children for the treatment, which might be sizeable

[sandworm101]

Because of accidental pregnancies, there are some treatments denied to all fertile women regardless of choice. Ussually they are those that cause horrible birth defects (limb reductions etc) or make pregnancy deadly to the mother. Given the links between oxygen and injuries like FAS, this hemoglobin treatment may be one of that group.

Example: Acutane was once used to treat acne in teenagers. Many/most doctors didnt give it to teenage girls regardless of whether they were sexually active or on the pill. Mistakes happen. That drug would do horrible things to a fetus.

[BurningFrog]

For acne, I support this policy.

For serious conditions like those in the article, forcing sterilization seems real cruel in an age with safe and plentiful abortion.

[alistairSH]

safe and plentiful abortion

Not in the US.

[adrianN]

Permanent sterilization is an option for women too.

[Mvandenbergh]

The chemo used to kill the remaining bone marrow has serious fertility implications anyway so I'm not sure this is an issue.

[krastanov]

... Or all the women who do not want any (more) biological children or find this side effect better than the disease? Making babies is not a raison d'etre in modern civilization.