23 January,2012 03:18 PM IST | | Priyanka Vora
The intra-uterine device got dislodged and fixed itself on her bladder, resulting in a stone to form; she conceived thrice in spite of the contraceptiveu00a0
When Zarina Ansari, now 35, opted for a copper-T insertion 12 years back, it was because doctors told her it was a sure-fire and safest method of contraception.
Little did she know that the device would push itself through her uterine walls, lodge itself in her urinary bladder, which in turn would trigger the formation of a large and painful stone.
At long last: The bladder stone (below) measuring 7x2 cm, was removed
from Zarina Ansari's body by a team of doctors in St George Hospital
last Monday
Relief at last
Last Monday, Ansari -- a mother of six and a resident of Pratapgarh in UP -- was finally relieved, when the stone growing in her bladder, and the 12-year-old copper-T intra-uterine device (IUD) that caused it, were removed surgically by a team of doctors.
"After three children, I wanted to stop conceiving for a while, and I decided to go for copper-T. A local health worker inserted the IUD but a few months later I conceived. I thought that the IUD could have just come out and I did not bother going to the doctor," said Ansari.
Telling signs
The first sign that not all was well came when Ansari conceived, in spite of the IUD.
Over the next few years, she conceived two more times.
"I even went for an abortion, but doctors did not see the IUD," she said.u00a0
A few months ago, Ansari started complaining of severe abdominal pain and urine inconsistency. She was prescribed medicines. "The medicines didn't help at all, and the local doctor asked us to go to Lucknow Medical College. It was in Lucknow that doctors told me that the IUD was the source of my pain and discomfort," recalled Ansari.
At first, Ansari decided to live with the pain, but when the pain turned to unendurable agony, the family decided to come to Mumbai in search of a cure.
Ansari was first admitted to Cama & Albless hospital, which referred her to St George hospital for specialised treatment.
A team of senior urologists at the hospital operated upon Ansari.
Professor of Urology at St George hospital, Dr J Bhawani, said, "We haven't come across a case like this before. The patient's ultrasound reports showed a stone formation in the urinary bladder, which resulted from the IUD dislodging itself from the uterus and getting embedded in the urinary bladder. We opted for an open surgery, as we wanted to remove the IUD completely. If any foreign material gets lodged in an organ, there is deposition of calcium around it, leading to a stone. In her case, the stone was formed because of the IUD."
The stone measured 7x2 cm.
Senior gynaecologist at the hospital, Dr Duru Shah, said, "In her case, the IUD wasn't inserted properly. The IUD may have perforated the uterus and pushed into the bladder. We have seen cases where the IUDs lodge themselves in nearby organs. But if the IUD is fixed properly, there is little chance of such complications. There are newer, safer models of IUDs."
"Gynaecologists say that IUDs are the safest mode of contraception, as they have long-term effectuality and are reversible in nature. Most of my patients prefer IUDs over condoms and pills," added Dr Shah.
