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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to use a persona as contraception?

80 replies

hiphophippity · 21/05/2016 13:11

For health reasons I want to avoid all hormones, and the coil. I really don't want a third baby... And we are fed up of condoms. Can anyone talk to me about using a Persona as contraception, the website says it is 94% fool proof. But it still seems a bit risky to me... Thoughts please Star

OP posts:
Abbinob · 21/05/2016 13:41

I obviously can't read, you don't want the coil. Erm, I think condoms is your only choice really then. Or use the persona thing plus pull out non-method and it will probably be OK but I wouldn't bank on it tbh

Fishcake72 · 21/05/2016 13:41

Persona is how I got my eleven year old Confused I missed ONE wee test!!!! Don't risk it.

maybebabybee · 21/05/2016 13:44

I used it for four years with no slip ups and then got pregnant first month of trying.

I know my cycles inside out though.

maybebabybee · 21/05/2016 13:45

Ps should also say definitely read taking charge of your fertility, don't just rely on persona.

Lweji · 21/05/2016 13:46

The thing with Persona and similar methods is that you're only safe after ovulation.

Before ovulation its mostly a guessing game of when it will occur.

TheDuchyOfGrandFenwick · 21/05/2016 13:47

Condoms?

fuctifino · 21/05/2016 13:48

I used a Persona from my mid-twenties until I conceived my first child as like op, I didn't want a hormone contraceptive.
I thought it was marvellous, maybe because I didn't end up with an unwanted pregnancy though Wink
If I had my fertile years all over again, I wouldn't hesitate to use it.

Osirus · 21/05/2016 13:50

We used withdrawal for about 6 years. Worked well. But then again we needed IVF to get pregnant! I would try the Persona, personally, as I won't hormone contraception either.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 21/05/2016 13:50

I used it to the letter (except the bit about not having any sex at all on red days and used condoms on those days). Ds is now 7 years old after we had a green day and had sex that night. The next test in the morning (I got up early to do this as on holiday) was red so we used condoms and we still ended up pregnant.

So two things: bear in mind that the 94% stat is where you don't have any sex on red days - the days where you really want to have sex because you're ovulating. And secondly it doesn't bloody work any way! We used condoms for years without issue. Six months of Persona use (during which there wasn't a lot of sex except at the end of the term) and we're up the duff Hmm

laundryelf · 21/05/2016 13:52

I used Persona for 4 years and it was great for me. It was also good for when we did decide to conceive and I got pregnant within two months of trying.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 21/05/2016 13:52

Ive used it most of the time it's been around with no slip ups at all.

You don't need to test every day,alcohol does not need to be avoided afair, you just need to either not have sex or use a barrier method if you have a red day or for a time if you miss a test.

Pseudo341 · 21/05/2016 13:53

I used natural family planning successfully for many years before then using it in reverse to choose to conceive my eldest. Cycle went a bit nuts after that so couldn't use it, and then got sterilized after my second (best decision ever!). It can be very effective if your cycle is regular but if you're certain you don't want any more kids I'd go for something more permanent.

TawnyGrisette · 21/05/2016 13:55

I used persona successfully (ie, no pregnancy) for quite a few years. My cycles were very regular, though, and I always knew when I was ovulating anyway.

StillRabbit · 21/05/2016 14:03

I know two people who used Persona.... same two people who had unexpected third pregnancies.... husband both now snipped!

We've used condoms 13 years now with no problems.

Redtomatojuice · 21/05/2016 14:04

I used persona for 6 years, but then having a baby wouldn't have been the end of the world. I was very careful too.

AintNobodyHereButUsKittens · 21/05/2016 14:06

This is why I hate the 94%/98%/99.8% style of talking about contraception reliability. Because even if you can do the sums they all instinctively feel kind of similar. Even though one is one in five hundred women and one is one in 17.

It also matters how long you're anticipating using this method. If you're using it perfectly and you've got a 1:17 chance of failure and you're planning to rely on it for ten years then your odds are really not looking good.

hiphophippity · 21/05/2016 14:23

DH hates condoms. He is circumcised and says he can't feel much... I don't love them tbh.

OP posts:
1horatio · 21/05/2016 14:23

What about a Contraceptive Coil?
This doesn't have to involve hormones, depending on the one you chose...

ProjectUniverse · 21/05/2016 14:33

I had one - I became pregnant within a year of using it despite having a very regular cycle. Personally I think the withdrawal method is more reliable Wink

NicknameUsed · 21/05/2016 14:37

I love that line Doreen. I have just told DD to use it if she needs to.

BeckyMcDonald · 21/05/2016 14:41

I hate hormonal contraception. We also hate condoms. We thought we'd have a crack at natural family planning. Just found out I'm pregnant with DC4.

I think a vasectomy is the only way to go for us.

AndNowItsSeven · 21/05/2016 14:43

Yes use persona but only if you also use condoms unless ultra safe days AND a baby wouldn't be the worse thing.

AndNowItsSeven · 21/05/2016 14:44

Sorry missed the no condoms.

Sidge · 21/05/2016 14:49

Withdrawal isn't a contraceptive method Wink

If you want long term reliable contraception without hormones you're looking at the copper coil, condoms, natural family planning, diaphragm (can be reliable but hard to find someone qualified to fit them and you need spermicide too) or sterilisation.

Or abstinence!

limitedperiodonly · 21/05/2016 15:01

Do they still make Persona? I heard that there were so many pregnancies amongst users that women who wanted to get pregnant were using it it pinpoint their most fertile times.

Have you tried a diapraghm? It sounds grim. I had the smallest size and it was still quite startlingly large. You think it's not going to go in there. It's embarrassing being taught how to insert it, but not terrible. I got so good at it that she asked if some students could come in to watch and feel. Because I am very competitive and a sucker for praise I agreed though after the fifth person wanted to watch and have a poke I said I'd had enough.

Putting it in in the field is difficult when you've had a few drinks - it pings around the bathroom and by the time you've got it in, you might have gone off the idea - so I'd recommend putting it in a few hours ahead because the spermicidal jelly will still be active. You just have to squirt up a bit more to be on the safe side when you want to have sex.

It can't be felt by you or your partner if it's in right. In fact, that's good because if he can feel it, it's not in right and you should stop.

I had one ages ago when I couldn't take the pill because of other drugs. I was a bit depressed because the reliability is lower than the pill and it can be a passion killer. But I learned and I didn't get pregnant. I was diligent with cleaning, storage and checking for holes and very liberal with the spermicidal jelly though.

DH said spermicide makes your tongue go numb that that wasn't a problem for me Wink

The nurse also recommended them during periods like a forerunner of the Mooncup. That works too.

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