By Shanea Johnson
How many of our doctors do you think thoroughly inform women of the side-effects of birth control? Imagine implanting a birth control device to prevent pregnancy and all it does is rain terrors of pain on you so much so that you are hospitalized. Unfortunately, this has been the experience of 18-year-old Angel Ricketts.
According to a report in the Star, Angel explained that after she gave birth to her son in 2018 at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital, she was given the Jadelle implant. The Jadelle implant is a form of contraceptive that is made up of two small flexible rods that are inserted under the skin in the upper arm. It is skillfully placed in a V-shape in order to facilitate easy removal. The implant is said to prevent pregnancies for up to five years.
What seemed to be a good idea at the time turned out to be a nightmare as Angel explained that after implanting the birth control device, within a year she began experiencing some terrible pains and often became ill. Is it likely that someone would engage in the use of a product or device knowing that it would cause some form of discomfort or even illness to the point of being admitted in the hospital? Certainly not I. I don’t believe that Angel knew enough about the side-effects of this birth control method.
Perhaps she should have done some research on the side-effects of Jadelle implantation just to be aware of what she was up against. Angel added that she experienced block-outs, dizziness, pain in her back and abdomen as well as numbness in her hand. Interestingly, these are some of the side-effects described by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In addition, the WHO noted that there are a number of side-effects which occur when using this form of contraceptive. These include:
1. Migraines
2. Persistent headaches and problems with vision.
3. Sharp pain in the chest or sudden difficulty in breathing
4. Lumps in breast
5. Pain, pus or bleeding at the insertion site of the implants
6. Heavy vaginal bleeding
These are just some of the consequences of using this method of birth control, and the list goes on. I have heard many stories of women who have endured labour pains. But for Angel, I can only imagine that these pains are perhaps even more excruciating to the point where she remarked bitterly “Sometimes me feel suicidal with this thing!”
She said the pain became so unbearable that since this year she went to the hospital to remove one of the implants, thinking that this would make everything better when it actually made everything worse. It is almost as if you can hear the desperate cry for help because of the agony and frustration that has befallen this young mother. I can only imagine Angel saying to herself, “This has been the worst mistake I have ever made in my life.”
If you have started to think things couldn’t get any worse for Angel, just think again. The young mother said that she could no longer endure the agony and so she went to remove the second implant. She must have breathed a sigh of relief upon her arrival at the doctor’s office. But, Angel would soon get the shocking news of her life. She stated that she was told that the implant was now lodged underneath one of her main veins and could not be removed. In the words of my great grandaunt “A wah kinda crosses this?”
So many questions must have popped up in her mind: How long will I live with this pain? Will this pain kill me instead of a stroke or even old age? Will I live long enough to see my baby boy graduate high school? What have I gotten myself into?”
Sadly, this is now the harsh and bitter reality of Angel Ricketts’ life – living in fear, not that someone will stab her in the back to kill her, but because of one small, flexible rod that she thought could have prevented her from getting pregnant but may now prevent her from STAYING ALIVE.
It would be judgmental of me to say women should abstain from sexual intercourse or use better family planning techniques. Most, if not all techniques employed have some form of repercussion. However, I believe it is up to the woman and her partner to research and find out about the side effects of using contraceptives such as Jadelle before engaging their use. After all, it is your body that will be going through what seems to be tribulations of endless suffering.
It is important to do the necessary research and become aware of what you’ll be going up against. Take charge, women, and know what your body can endure. Pleasure lasts only for a moment but such serious decisions as implantations last for a lifetime. That is, if you’ll live for a ‘lifetime’. Think on these things!
We want to hear from you! Send feedback to commentary@factionsja.com
