Mother Campaigns for Clearer Contraceptive Pill Warnings After Daughter's Tragic Death
The grieving mother of a young woman who died suddenly from a blood clot linked to her contraceptive pill is demanding clearer warnings on medication packaging. An inquest revealed that Áine Rose Hurst, a 19-year-old from Bolton, passed away due to complications arising from the hormonal contraceptive pill Femodette.
Áine's Story and the Call for Change
In the months preceding her death, Áine had temporarily stopped taking the pill after an annual check-up detected high blood pressure. However, she was soon prescribed the contraceptive again. Her mother, Kerry Hurst, asserts that too many young women remain unaware of the pill's potentially life-threatening side effects. She is now advocating for contraceptive pill packets to display explicit warnings about serious risks.
Kerry Hurst stated: 'We're never going to get Áine back, but if we can make a difference to someone else's life, and stop that happening again, then I hope that's what we can do.'
The family has established the Áine Rose Contraceptive Safety Foundation to increase awareness of the pill's potential dangers. Instead of relying solely on lengthy safety information leaflets that are often discarded, the foundation wants pill packets themselves to highlight warnings about more severe possible side effects.
The Tragic Events Leading to Áine's Death
On March 8, 2025, Áine woke with a headache after a night out with friends, initially attributing it to a hangover. Two days later, the headache persisted despite painkillers. She was rushed to Royal Bolton Hospital after becoming unresponsive and foaming at the mouth.
Doctors discovered a blood clot in her brain, deemed inoperable due to its size and location. Her mother recalls: 'They told us if she was to survive, she probably wouldn't be the same person. And once they tested her brain, to see if there was any function, if there wasn't any response, they would turn the machines off at that point.' Áine died minutes later.
The inquest, held on November 27, concluded her death resulted from an extensive cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, a recognized but rare side effect of taking Femodette.
Understanding the Risks of Combined Hormonal Contraceptives
Femodette is an oral contraceptive taken daily for 21 days followed by a seven-day break. It contains both oestrogen and progestogen, classifying it as a combined hormonal contraception. According to the NHS, the risk of developing a blood clot with this type of pill is small, affecting approximately one in 1,000 users.
However, women taking the pill face an increased risk of blood clotting because it can elevate blood pressure, making some hormonal contraceptives unsuitable for everyone. The risk of blood clots in individuals using combined hormonal contraceptives is about three times higher than in the general population. Factors like smoking, being overweight, and dehydration can further increase this risk.
Symptoms and Awareness Efforts
Common symptoms of a blood clot include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Coughing up blood
- Feeling faint or passing out
- Redness, swelling, and pain in the leg, which might indicate a clot in the leg
Kerry Hurst emphasizes that while she does not want to deter people from taking the pill, the foundation is committed to raising better awareness of associated risks. Áine's aunt, Dawn Rawlinson, told the BBC: 'My number one aim is to make sure this doesn't happen again, and families don't have to experience what we have.'
Broader Implications and Side Effects
Known side effects of the pill, which is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, include nausea, breast tenderness, mood swings, and headaches. Rare side effects of combined pills like Femodette and mini-pills can involve a slightly heightened risk of breast and cervical cancer, as hormones may stimulate some cancer cells.
Experts have expressed concern about the pill's accessibility, now that women can obtain first prescriptions from pharmacies, potentially increasing exposure to rare side effects without adequate medical oversight.
