When family planning fails: Bungoma woman's IUD pregnancy sparks call for awareness

Pregnant despite an IUD. [Courtesy/GettyImages] In the quiet hills of Sango village in Bungoma County, a woman's deeply personal story has become a rallying point for honest conversations about reproductive health and the limitations of family planning. For over a decade, 39-year-old Miriam Wanyama a mother of six and respected Community Health Promoter believed she had taken control of her reproductive future. After using a 12-year intrauterine device (IUD), commonly known as the coil, she confidently planned for one more child, whom she lovingly welcomed after the device's removal. "After giving birth to my lastborn, I went back to the hospital and had another coil inserted," she recalled. "This time, I was sure I had closed the chapter of giving birth." But three months later, that chapter reopened. The news of another pregnancy came as a blow. "I was disappointed. It wasn't in my plan," Wanyama said, her voice laced with "I had trusted the method." To her, something had gone wrong, not with her body, but with the procedure itself "It's possible the coil wasn't inserted properly," she suspected. Despite the emotional toll, Wanyama refuses to turn her back on family planning. Instead, she's doubled down on educating women in her community about its benefits and its limitations. "Contraceptives are important, but we must be honest, they're not perfect. Women and couples need to know that," she said. Wanyama now works closely with reproductive health organisations and holds open forums to encourage family planning, while also urging women to seek follow-up care and ask questions when things feel off. She praises Marie Stopes and similar groups for helping rural families make informed reproductive choices. "Marie Stopes has done a lot in our villages. Fewer women are having unplanned pregnancies, and more are empowered to make decisions about their bodies," she said. Her experience is more than anecdotal. National data backs the need for awareness. The 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey revealed that 70 percent of sexually active unmarried women use some form of family planning, with 59 percent relying on modern methods. Among married women, injectables, implants and pills are the most commonly used. But even modern methods, while effective, are not infallible. Dr Divinizah Ochwila, a senior reproductive health nurse at Bungoma County Referral Hospital, explains that contraceptive failure, though rare, can occur, and often for reasons many people don't realise. Divinizah Ochwila, Reproductive Health nurse at the Bungoma County Referral Hospital. [Juliet Omelo, Standard] "There's a one percent chance that even with correct usage, a woman might still conceive," she said. According to Ochwila, inconsistencies in usage, overlooked medical conditions, and interactions with certain medications can interfere with a contraceptive's effectiveness. Obesity, diabetes, and even hormonal imbalances can disrupt how the body processes birth control. "That's why we conduct thorough assessments before prescribing any method," she said. IUCDs like the one Wanyama used are among the most reliable forms of contraception but they are not immune to complications. Ochwila noted that after insertion, the uterus might reject the device as a foreign object and expel it, sometimes without the woman's knowledge. "That's why follow-up visits are crucial," she stressed. "We recommend check-ups after one, three and six months. By the sixth month, the uterus usually adjusts." Other technical factors also come into play, such as uterine size. "If the uterus is too small or too large, the device might not sit correctly. That makes it easier for sperm to reach the egg," Ochwila explained. Short-term contraceptive methods, such as pills, also carry a higher risk of failure if users aren't meticulous. "Pills must be taken at the same time every day. If you forget or delay, the effectiveness drops," she said, recommending the use of condoms as a backup. And even condoms have pitfalls. Ochwila recounted cases of condoms bursting or slipping off mistakes that, without emergency contraception, can lead to unintended pregnancies. "If it happens that a condom bursts during intercourse it can still release semen. If the woman is fertile, that's enough for conception," she explained. For Ochwila these realities underscore the need for education, consistency, and medical supervision. "Family planning works best when women understand their options, follow medical advice, and know what to watch for," she said. With renewed determination, Wanyama continues to share her story in marketplaces and health forums, warning women not only to plan their families but also to monitor and advocate for their reproductive health. "Let us not shy away from planning our families," she said. "But let's also remember to speak up when something doesn't feel right." Her experience once a private disappointment now serves as a powerful reminder that even in the realm of science and medicine, informed vigilance is every woman's strongest ally.

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