Thrombosis: Woman Told a Pregnancy Will Kill Her Due to Her Blood Clots 13 Years Ago

blood clots thrombosis Pregnancy Pulmonary embolism blood clots in the lungs U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC birth control pills antiphospholipid syndrome autoimmune disorder miscarriage stillbirth

By Lilian Scott , Parent Herald Nov 02, 01:32 am

A woman yearning to become a mother has been advised never to get pregnant because the blood clots she incurred 13 years ago could result in her death. Robyne Toseland, 36, was advised by her doctors that she would have a dangerous pregnancy because she suffered from thrombosis.

Toseland wrote in The Sun that she learned of her thrombosis at 23 years old when she suffered from a serious pulmonary embolism or blood clots in the lungs. Her family thought she would not survive this medical ordeal, but after intensive treatment, including blood thinners and transfusions, Toseland has been living and thriving with her condition for the past decade.

Doctors told the woman, who lives in Cambridge in the U.K., that it would be a long recovery for her as the medical incident left some lung scarring. Following her hospitalization, which almost took her life, Toseland said that she has suffered from multiple blood clots and was resigned to the fact that it is now a part of her life. Her most recent hospital incident was in March 2021.

Planning a Family

Toseland and her husband have wanted to start having babies, but being told by her doctors that she cannot be pregnant was "devastating to hear." Thrombosis puts too much pressure on her lungs, and her doctors are concerned that this would further cause a strain if she were to have a baby.

The couple has other options for expanding their family, but Toseland said she would be turned down for adoption because of her health issues. She and her husband also can't afford to go through surrogacy.

The young woman said that she's hoping that her story would raise awareness on "just how serious blood clots are." Although she is grateful to be thriving despite her medical episodes, Toseland said that her condition has "destroyed my life in a lot of ways," and she hopes no one else will suffer a similar experience.

Per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 100,000 people die from thrombosis every year, while pulmonary embolism is a leading cause of death among women who are pregnant or have recently had a baby.

Cause of Blood Clots

Toseland said that doctors initially considered her use of birth control pills as the cause of her blood clots. However, she has been taken off the pills years ago. Her current diagnosis indicates that she could be suffering from antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), an autoimmune disorder known as Hughes syndrome.

Per the Mayo Clinic, APS develops when the body's immune system produces more antibodies to protect against viruses and bacteria. Too many antibodies, however, can lead to blood clots, which has also been reported as a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine in a small number of extreme cases.

APS has no cure, but there are medications to manage the risks. In women, the condition can lead to a miscarriage or stillbirth if the woman becomes pregnant.