A HEART-BREAKING EastEnders storyline about a character rendered infertile following a routine hospital procedure has prompted a devastated Southampton woman to speak out about her similar experience.

In the BBC soap Shabnam Masood and her husband Kush are not only suffering the grief of a stillborn baby but they have now discovered that a procedure to clear Shabnam's uterus of any remaining tissue has left her scarred and unable to have any more children.

The procedure, known as a D&C (dilation and curettage) is routinely carried out by doctors to clear the uterine lining after a miscarriage.

Lesley Hamer, 40, a mobile hairdresser from Bitterne says her life is "ruined" after undergoing a D&C after she suffered a miscarriage in 2013.

Since then she has been unable to fall pregnant, continues to suffer from depression and says this caused her 13-year relationship to fall apart.

And she wants to urge other women who suffer a miscarriage or still-birth not to automatically agree to a D&C when other options are available to them.

She says this was never explained to her and she would never have agreed to a D&C had she known the risks.

"Watching EastEnders brought back all the heartache I went through over two years ago. After suffering a miscarriage in May 2013 , I had to make the hard decision of either letting it come away naturally, take a tablet or have a D&C . I was sat in a room and not explained which would be the best option. The young nurse that saw me gave me some leaflets to read and left the room. When she returned she didn't take time to explain any of the information. I was adamant I wanted what was left in me out of me but she never said to me if you have a D&C there's a chance you will never have a child again. So I just said I want a D&C as I just thought get rid of it as I'd already miscarried two weeks prior to going to the hospital and was distraught."

In both the EastEnders' storyline and in Lesley's case, both were diagnosed with severe Asherman's Syndrome which is the formation of scar tissue in the womb. The problem can develop after uterine surgery.

The NHS website, and other medical sites, advise that Asherman syndrome is a rare condition. In most cases, it occurs in women who have had several D&C procedures.

The adhesions/scarring may cause amenorrhea (lack of menstrual periods), repeated miscarriages, and infertility.

It can occur suddenly after a D&C or other uterine surgery.

Lesley says these risks, though rare, were never explained to her at the Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton. The hospital says she was told the risks.

" I never had a period after that even though tests showed I was still ovulating. The lining of my womb never thickened up enough after that. It needs to be at least 7 or 8mm but at nine months mine was still only 3mm so I can't get pregnant."

Lesley eventually underwent two hysteroscopy operations under general anaesthetic - a procedure used to examine the inside of the uterus. Scar tissue was removed on both occasions but she says this only made it worse as more scar tissue formed.

Finally she contacted the ombudsman to complain about her treatment. She said "I feel totally let down by the hospital" because now a surrogate would be her only option, which she can't afford.

"I was told I'm too old for IVF on the NHS, so I now have to face the fact of never being able to have children of my own.

"I think people should be made more aware of the seriousness of a D&C or hysteroscopy and the other possible options before going through with this procedure. If I knew that it could possibly be a student doing the operation for the first time and not a senior knowing what the outcome could be I would never have signed the consent form.

"The nurses who see to these patients should also have experience in all aspects of this because I was just given a leaflet about miscarriage and told to choose what I wanted - not sat down and had all the options totally explained to me."

Lesley added: "People who have had to deal with the heartbreak of losing a baby should not have to go through what I've been through. I've bottled this up for over two years. I now have no option but to deal with it bit I want other people to be aware of other options instead of living their life like me never having children.

"I'm now on permanent anti-depressants, which I don't think are working. I said to the doctor I think I'm cracking up. I can't cope. I'm drinking heavily every weekend.

"I did go to a counsellor who said you have so much anger in you. I said I have but you can't give me a child so I sat there in silence as counselling won't solve it.

"Me and my boyfriend would still be together, 100 per cent, if it wasn't for this. I've been robbed of ever having children in my life.

"The consent form I signed for the D&C said nothing about scarring but the hospital said it's just very unfortunate it happened to you.I'm very loyal to my business and I love being a mobile hairdresser but all I've ever wanted is one kid of my own just to be part of me."

A spokesman for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust said: “The trust’s clinicians provided a comprehensive explanation and followed a strict consent process prior to Ms Hamer’s procedure, during which she sadly suffered a rare but recognised complication.

“We understand what a distressing experience this has been for her and would urge her to contact us if she has any further concerns to raise so we can address them directly and provide any additional support she may require.”

For advice and clear information on D&Cs the NHS provides a comprehensive breakdown via the NHS Choices website.