Contraceptive jab given accidentally to Megan Palmer trying for a baby

Megan Palmer, 27, and her husband James were trying for their second child but their plans were interrupted following the medical error at Rochford Medical Practice.

Megan visited the practice for a vitamin B12 injection, which helps improve fertility.

Instead she was given Depo-Provera, a powerful birth control shot - despite querying the packaging with the nurse.

Megan, who lives in Ashingdon, said: “We were devastated. We had been trying so hard to get pregnant and finding out that I had been given a contraceptive made our lives really stressful.

“I didn’t know when my fertility would return to normal and this affected our plans to add to our family.

The subsequent anxiety as to whether she would ever conceive again led to Megan developing a psychological disorder, which was diagnosed by a consultant psychiatrist.

Depo-Provera prevents pregnancy by releasing progesterone into the bloodstream and is considered 99 per cent effective.

It lasts for 13 weeks but can affect fertility for up to a year.

Side effects can also include weight gain, headaches, mood swings, breast tenderness and irregularity of periods.

The Palmers decided to make a claim for medical negligence against Rochford Medical Practice and won their case. Megan was subsequently awarded £5,500 in compensation.

She added: “We decided we would make a claim because we felt it was important to show how vital it is that nurses listen to their patients.”

Fortunately, Megan has since been able to conceive and has recently given birth to a baby boy.

“We are fortunate that I did eventually get pregnant,” she added. “It was such a stressful time and it had such an impact on our lives. It is an incredible relief to finally have our family complete. I hope speaking out will act as an incentive to other patients to stick to their guns if they feel their concerns are being ignored.”

The surgery did not respond when contacted for comment.