Compensation for IVF failure due to unremoved coil

A woman who had eight failed rounds of IVF has received compensation after finding out that an IUD had been left inside her for almost 30 years.

Jayne Huddleston from Cheshire had the contraceptive copper intrauterine device (known as an IUD, or coil) fitted in 1989, but a year later, she was told by her GP that it had fallen out. She had a subsequent IUD fitted, which was later removed when she and her husband, David, decided they wanted to have children. However, the first IUD had not fallen out and remained inside her.

'We struggled to conceive,' said Huddleston. 'I remember the GP checked my hormone levels and I was told that they were normal. Me and David tried everything we could think of but nothing happened and we were referred to specialists who suggested IVF'.

Huddleston and her husband went on to have eight failed rounds of IVF between 1995 and 2002. Six rounds were privately funded, which cost them thousands of pounds.

'Even after initial failed cycles the doctors didn't seem too concerned. They said we had good quality embryos and I also had proven fertility' said Huddleston, who has a son from a previous relationship. 'I remember at one stage David even asking the doctor whether they were sure a coil wasn't still there? We were told "no it would have shown up on a scan"'.

Huddleston experienced heavy periods, bleeding, stomach pain and infections, but the IUD was not detected until a 2019 scan for back pain. It was later removed surgically.

'When I was told in 2019 after the scan that they could see the coil I couldn't believe it. I was devastated. I was crying and could only think about the babies me and David should have had'.

The GP who made the initial error is now retired, but Huddleston has received a six-figure out-of-court settlement from their insurers.

Solicitor Zoe Donohue, who represented Huddleston said: 'we believe that if Jayne had undergone more thorough investigations and had been sent for an X-ray her coil would have been found and removed, meaning she wouldn't have had to go through the ordeal she has'.

Huddleston said 'while following surgery to remove the coil my symptoms have gone, I'm not sure we'll ever get over the psychological pain of the last 30 years'.