Any Persona users or other similar devices?

I've got a persona, and have used it for about 3 years.

They do say in the info that it's not a suitable product for you if getting pregnant would be a disaster. That's not so much of an issue for us, so we decided to 'risk' it.

The main faff I find with it is remembering to check to see if it's asking for a test - it asks for one on day 6 (I think!) and then the next one varies depending on your hormone levels although it will ask for a test for 7 consecutive days. I'm really bad at remembering to check for the 1st of the 7 tests and frequently miss it! That said, that's also a lot to do with the fact that I work shifts and miss the test 'window'.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend it unless you're prepared for the possibility that you could be one of the 'unlucky' 6%, but I don't have any alternative suggestions, I'm afraid!! I don't think there's any such thing as a foolproof method, so it may be a case of combining a couple to be doubley safe!

I'm sure Rache or RA will have the correct stats but I think in real life use condoms are not much more effective than Persona. ie, not considered ideal if pregnancy is a disaster.

Have you looked on here at the options? http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/sexualhealth/Pages/contraceptionguide.aspx?WT.srch=1&gclid=CJKNjrTOtpsCFYYU4wodGluuDg

I have an IUD and it's fab. Well, it's like having nothing, which is as fab as contraception gets ?

I have the IUD too and it is fab, as SophieM says. Didn't hurt one jot having it put in, in fact I found the smear test I had last week more uncomfortable than the IUD.

I think that the statistics on condoms are based on 'general usage' in that their success rate also includes 'user error' where people have put them on too late or put them on incorrectly etc.

If you are careful about how you use them and don't take risks (like having intercourse then putting the condom on before 'the end') then the success rate is much higher.

I use persona, well I did pre babies. I am waiting to restart on Persona (you have to have 3 periods post baby before you can use again)

I've found it great. I have been pregnant 3 times on it but they were planned pregnancies! We tend to use condoms with it when we're using it for contraception. Although I might not bother with condoms in future as it's actually quite hard for us to get pregnant so it might be a step too far.

every GP or family planning nurse I've ever seen has told me not to rely on it alone for contraception and to use it in tandem with a barrier method.

There's a new-ish mini pill called Cerazette which is amazing - it stops my periods which is a miracle as little else has managed it, and I didn't get on with the pill or mini pill at all.

I tried to have a Mirena fitted but they couldn't get it in and it was hideously painful.

Can you get the Persona free from the FPC or do you buy it in Boots or something?

Hey, no time for a long reply but as other have said, I wouldn't rely on Persona on its own if a pregnancy would be a disaster. Persona plus barrier method can be good if you are motivated to do it properly.

If you are really against any hormonal option then it is barrier (condom, diaphram, femidom), copper coil, or natural family planning. If you want to do NFP properly it is really worth going to see a NFP tutor. I would use Persona in conjunction with other NFP methods like CM testing.

The 'best' methods in terms of success are all hormonal I'm afraid. Have you thought about implant/injection? They can be better in terms of side effects than the pill. Also newly released is the plastic ring that goes in your vagina - Nuvaring. If you can't have the combined pill (medically) then Nuvaring is no good, but otherwise it could be worth a shot. They do say the side effects are less but it's not really been around long enough for any convincing evidence. Like all these things though, it's very personal so I think if pregnancy would be a disaster it may be worth persuing other options before writing off all hormonal options. There are also not just different brands of pill but different dosages, different hormones etc. Have you tried going to a proper FPC for advice?

Whoever asked - no Persona isn't free. It can work out quite expensive unfortunately.

ETA: As always, I recommend the fpa website for contraceptive info

https://www.fpa.org.uk/Information/Readourinformationbooklets/natural

Thanks for the reply. Strange it's not free when all other methods are. I'm only being nosey, I don't need it ?

I think you're right but I seem to remember the stats are also based on women who were not in their most fertile age group!

Thanks for sharing your experiences

Sadly hormonal options are defo no goes (migraine and mental blood pressure on combined / acne on minithough I loved being period free). I did like the idea of the nuva ring but the estrogen rules it out

Perhaps I should stop beng squeamish and look into the IUD option a bit more. Can anyone tell me about how easily they are removed and how long they take to have inserted?

TMI maybe but I am a stickler for detail and need to know what I am letting myself in for!

'Perfect' usage of condoms has a 98% effectiveness.

How easily they are removed: usually very easily. So if you don't get on with it, you can just have it out.

How long to insert - about 20 mins-30 mins total - although only actually 5 mins putting the coil in IYSWIM. We use local anaesthetic in women who've had no children so it's not too sore.

ETA the fpa link (I don't work for them, honest ?) https://www.fpa.org.uk/Information/Readourinformationbooklets/IUD

My experience of the coil was that it was painful to have put in, but only for a few seconds. I had a couple of days' crampy pains afterwards and the first few periods were more painful. It came out really easily - no more time consuming or painful than removing a tampon (ie not at all)

I also can't take hormonal contraception of any sort. We rely on condoms when not ttc and they've worked - but there again being pregnant has never been a disaster. I don't know what we'll do after this baby, but I'm suspecting it will be one or other of us going for the snip as none of the other methods are great IMO.

My experience of the Mirena insertion was horrendous. The cervical clamp thing was awful and they couldn't get it on properly. It was very painful, I was crying and the tears welled up in my ears. There were also 2 students in the room ?

I couldn't go through with it in the end as I couldn't stand the pain. They did offer some anaesthetic gel but it was too late by then as I was bleeding too much and couldn't wait to get out of the door. There was a lot of blood when I got up and I bled for days afterwards and was still in pain. I think they must have done me some sort of injury while they were up there. I've never let the FPC touch me again.

Doughnut- am on crezette and still bleeding/ spotting after 3 months. Did you have this and did it settle down? Don't answer if too personal or anything. I can't take anymore pills due to migraines (which i am still getting on crezette?) and I can't take this much longer!

I did Hyacinth and gave up on it a few times, but went back onto it as on and off light periods were better than one massive one once a month ? If I get too heavy then my periods come back; over about 9st10 and they come back.

I have used a Persona monitor for the past 4 years or so and have used it both as a contraceptive and to concieve (it worked first month of ttc first time round!), now month one of ttc number 2 so will have to wait and see how accurate the monitor is this time!

As R-A says, it does cost (especially as in Boots the test sticks went up from £10 to £13 overnight!), but I tend to buy them online and it works out better value.

Thanks Doughnut. Its constant, having to wear a tampon everyday. may as well persist though as I'm not getting pregnant and thats the main thing.

My experience of having the IUD inserted was great, like I said before I found my smear last week more uncomfortable. Although, it's worth mentioning that I've had 2 kids, so I think things were probably 'looser' down there ? ?

In whole I was probably in with the Doctor for about 30 minutes. Most of that time was discussing the IUD and possible side effects. Actual insertion wasn't that different from a smear, up on the table, spectulum (?) inserted and then a long straw like piece of plastic which contains the coil was then put in. The Doctor then released the coil and that was it, easy peasy.

Afterwards I did experience some cramping, which ibuprofen sorted out. I did however have extremely heavy periods for a few months afterwards (which is normal) but now 6 months later they've calmed down, but they are a bit heavier than they used to be. Previously, my periods were very light so it's not caused a problem.

Initially I could feel the strings, like a slight 'scratchy' feeling occasionally when I sat down etc. Again, I've read this is very common and over time the strings soften. I don't feel them at all now. My H has never felt them during sex, so there's never been a problem there.

I love my IUD, all I have to do is just a quick feel after each period to make sure it's still there and that's it!

HTH

PoppetK you must have a chuff like a wizard's sleeve ? I wish my experience had been similar. I wonder how you got away without the clamps etc? Did you have a Mirena? They're bigger than normal coils I think. I was only having mine to stop periods; I don't need it for contraception.

I haven't had children and I've had a Mirena and a normal copper coil put in (got them to take the Mirena out after about five months as I was putting on weight. Dr: "Have you thought about exercise?" Me: "I am training for a marathon, now please TAKE IT OUT"). Mirena insertion is meant to be more painful but I found the regular one worse, possibly because I'd pissed off the doc over the exercise thing and she was a bit cavalier about it ?. It did hurt, considerably more than a smear, but was over in a few minutes and I had no pain or bleeding afterwards, and hell - it's only once every ten years.

I got pregnant on cerazette............. but I'm not a good example ?

I had the mirena coil fitted and I have to say it was actually quite painful (no kids so the doc said it would hurt more), I am actually one of the bad examples though as my coil moved and I ended up at the hospital in agony having to have it removed - so I could never ever go there again.

When this baby is born I may try the nuvaring, I've tried everything else so I should probably give it a go. If it doesn't work for me (nothing else has so far) I'm going to be charting and using condoms during the fertile period. Having charted to get pregnant I think I've got the hang of it and could use it as a form of contraception.

Actually inserting the coil didn't hurt, it just felt a bit weird, but the blooming speculum thing really hurt. I swear she (TMI) opened it too wide, but they didn't the same again at the FPC when I had it checked before. I'm having it checked again next Friday and I'm dreading it!

I am stuck with it, it's kind of the best of a bad bunch for me. I *hate* condoms, hate all hormonal methods, can't risk pregnant since I already have two children, one step daughter and have only been with my boyfriend 8 months...!

I get quite bad PMT on this, and for days 2 and 3 of my period the flow is quite heavy but apart from that it's fine really.