Contraception can help women plan their motherhood journey. But sadly, for young mum Shannon Hubbard, going on contraception nearly cost her her life. Now she wants to warn other mums about the dangers of contraceptive operation.
Hubbard, who hails from Queensland, Australia recounts her plight to news.com.au. She first had the intra-uterine device (IUD) Mirena implanted after the birth of her first child.
Because the hormone-releasing IUD was not implanted properly, Hubbard started bleeding heavily.
"I was filling large pads within 40 minutes and had really large blood clots," recalls the 25-year-old mum-of-three, who was immediately rushed to the hospital.
While there, she continued to bleed profusely.
"I had what they call haematogenic shock," she explains.
Haematogenic shock occurs when a person bleeds heavily for a prolonged period of time without medical intervention.
Aside from almost killing the young mum, the botched implantation meant she would no longer be able to bear more children
She had to undergo three operations and receive 17 blood transfusions to survive.
But aside from almost killing her, the botched IUD implantation meant she would no longer be able to bear more children. Though her uterus remained intact, she would be risking uterine rupture should she get pregnant again.
"I’m devastated and I don’t know how it’s going to affect me," she laments. "I’m only 25, I had lots of years ahead of me and it’s been taken away. I can’t stop thinking now that this small decision almost cost me my life.”
Dangers of contraceptive operation mums should know about
Barring any side effects, the IUD Mirena can last for five years. Though it can cause irregular cycles, it can be taken out once you want to pregnant again. IUDs are an easy, affordable option for many women who don't want to get pregnant.
About 5 to 15% of women with IUDs experience pain and bleeding after a year of IUD insertion. Aside from these symptoms, they might also experience pelvic infection, ectopic pregnancy or spontaneous abortion.
There are other dangers of contraceptive operation, however, such as the risks that come with sterilisation.
The most common sterilisation surgery in women is tubal ligation, which involves blocking or sealing the fallopian tubes as a permanent form of contraception.
Like IUDs, there is a risk of bleeding, infection, ectopic pregnancy as well as the possibility of injury to surrounding organs. Added risks are breathing problems as well as allergic reactions.
The first step to preventing these complications is to express your fears to your doctor. Make sure you know all the risks before choosing a mode of contraception.
Do your research and only go with the safest option, and the doctor you feel most comfortable with, even if it means shelling out more. Your future health — and the future well-being of your children — is truly priceless.
Sources: news.com.au, Medscape, WebMD, Healthline, Prevention
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